Cameras and Chester Zoo have captured the moment a rare baby giraffe made its entrance into the world this past weekend.
And it’s fair to say, he certainly burst onto the scene.
In a birth that’s unlike many others and appeared to shock the surrounding long-legged residents, Chester Zoo has shared a video of the adorable new giraffe calf falling more than 6ft onto a bed of soft straw as he arrived into the world, after 14-year-old mum, Orla, gave birth last Saturday at 2:57am – which brought to an end to a 15 month-long (473 day) pregnancy
The incredible CCTV footage also shows the moment the newborn stands up and takes his very first steps and enjoys his first feed – a moment zookeepers say is “vitally important” for the bond between mum and baby.
Chester Zoo’s giraffe team manager Sarah Roffe explained that, while it may sound unusual, this 6ft-high fall is “a really important part of the birthing process” for giraffes, as it’s what helps to break the umbilical cord and stimulate the calf to take its very first breath.
“While tiny in comparison to mum Orla, her new arrival was born already towering above us at 6ft tall and weighing a hefty 72kg,” Sarah added.
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She continued: “Following the dramatic birth, it’s vitally important that the calf gets to its feet quickly and ventures over to mum for its first feed, as it’s these precious early moments that help to cement that special bond between the two of them – and that’s exactly what occurred between Orla and her baby only minutes after his birth.
“It’s early days, but so far the calf is looking strong, healthy and very content, which is brilliant to see.”
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Keepers at the UK’s biggest charity zoo have named the new male giraffe calf Stanley after Mount Stanley, which is the tallest mountain in Uganda in Africa.
Chester Zoo cameras captured the moment a rare baby giraffe made its entrance into the world / Credit: Chester Zoo
Uganda is where the zoo’s conservationists are fighting to boost giraffe numbers.
Right across Africa, giraffes are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – which is the world’s authority on the state of the natural world – and although Rothschild’s giraffe numbers are now increasing due to conservation efforts, fewer than 2,500 remain in East Africa.
As their habitats have been lost to make way for mining, urban development, or agricultural farming, as well as poaching for their skin, tails, or meat, Rothschild’s giraffes are now considered one of Africa’s most at-risk mammals.
However, Chester Zoo says that in some parts of Uganda – where the zoo and its partners are actively working – numbers are steadily on the rise, and it’s thanks to decades of conservation efforts.
Keepers have named the new male giraffe calf Stanley / Credit: Chester Zoo
“Having a healthy new calf on the ground here at the zoo is therefore fantastic news for the threatened species breeding programme that’s boosting numbers in conservation zoos like ours,” added Mike Jordan – Director of Animals and Plants at Chester Zoo.
“In tandem with the breeding programme, our team of giraffe experts have been helping our long term partners… to protect, monitor and, in some cases, translocate giraffes from one area of Uganda to another.
Just over two decades ago the number of giraffes in Kidepo Valley National Park was in single digits, but with these conservation efforts it’s now a protected reserve that’s home to more than 70 adult Rothschild’s giraffes, with calves being born year on year.
“This is just one of the many successful conservation stories that our charity zoo is proud to be part of and really shows that there are good people out there fighting to save species from extinction.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Frankfurt forward sparks Man United transfer rumours after naming favourite childhood club
Danny Jones
French forward Hugo Ekitiké who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, has set the transfer rumour mill churning after revealing that he was a boyhood Manchester United fan.
Ekitiké may currently be lighting up the German league but many fans, both United and otherwise, now believe the youngster has given the club a strong signal to ‘come and get me’ in a recent interview with his current employers.
Speaking via Frankfurt’s own media channels, the 22-year-old striker was asked who his favourite football team was growing up in a series of quickfire questions.
He didn’t hesitate:
🚨 Hugo Ekitike when asked which team was his favourite club when he was little:
If this is, indeed, a bit of a wink and a nod in the Red Devils direction (he wouldn’t be the first nor the last), there might be reason to believe it could happen.
Born in Reims, not only is Ekitiké one of the most promising young players in the Bundesliga at present, but there are plenty of particulars that could see a courtship sparked with United – if it hasn’t already.
Apart from clearly being a Red from a young age, the Frankfurt prospect came through the ranks at his hometown club in 2019, the same year in which Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group acquired fellow Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.
Not only did he score 10 goals in his first 26 appearances for Reims but it didn’t take too long for PSG to snap him up before ultimately loaning him out to Frankfurt last year, who made the deal permanent back in April 2024. All this is to say that it’s likely that INEOS will have detailed scout reports on him already.
Since then, he’s gone on to net 19 goals and register eight assists across 38 appearances, including a baker’s dozen in the league and four goal contributions in three games during his side’s run to the round of 16 in the domestic cup.
You can see some of Hugo Ekitiké’s highlights below.
Following this revelation, some outlets are reporting that Man United, Arsenal and a number of other clubs have been put on ‘red alert’ in regards to tapping up Ekitiké ahead of the summer transfer window.
European football reporter and German transfer specialist Florian Plettenberg has said that he is among a handful of names that the United are “closely monitoring.”
It goes without saying that given Rúben Amorim‘s early struggles with getting his squad to not just score enough goals but create a steady stream of chances from game to game, the addition of another young striker to potentially build around whilst his other forwards are struggling to find form could be useful.
As for how much Ekitiké’s would be priced at, whoever does go in for him will no doubt have to pay quite an increase on the estimated £13.5million transfer fee Frankfurt signed him for.
Besides being an option for rotation – especially as Joshua Zirkzee seems to have moved into an attacking midfield role and Rasmus Højlund has only found the net once in his last 21 games – he’s already been praised for his dynamism, even if he’s still somewhat raw.
For what it’s worth, we’ve already seen how well a former Frankfurt teammate of his has settled into life in English football over on the blue half of Manchester in the form of Omar Marmoush, and the Bundesliga’s similarity to the Premier League in terms of physicality is well documented.
Oh yeah, and a meaningless coincidence it may well be, but he’s already used to wearing red, white and black – just saying…
Featured Images — Eintracht Frankfurt/Bundesliga (screenshots via YouTube)
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Section of the 2025 Manchester Marathon to be named after Jamie Laing following ultra fundraiser
Danny Jones
Comic Relief has a new hero and after his ultra-distance and ultra-hard fundraising feats, Jamie Laing looks set to have part of the 2025 Manchester Marathon named after him.
He’s come a long way from the days of McVitie’s fortune and Made in Chelsea moments.
The English TV personality turned presenter, podcaster and businessman embarked on an unbelievable ultra marathon challenge earlier this week, setting himself the task of running a total of 150 miles for Comic Relief. With no training…
Making his way from London all the way to Manchester and in Salford Quays, specifically, where the BBC coverage team and thousands of spectators met him with rapturous applause, he completed the unbelievable distance and was in tears at the finish. Here’s the moment he did it:
Full of emotion after not only having smashed the five ultra marathons in five days – who had never run anywhere near this distance before in his life – but after raising nearly £3 million for the cause and counting, there were hugs and plenty of tears all-round.
Laing described the experience as “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life” and said that a big part of the journey was battling through and drawing attention to the issues surrounding mental health, admitting: “I have suffered, and I do suffer, and that’s OK.”
Now, while we don’t have that power at present, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing, which comes courtesy of the Adidas Manchester Marathon.
With Laing having officially completed his consecutive ultra marathon challenge, the organisers are now preparing to name a section of this year’s route through Greater Manchester in his honour.
Come on, how cool is that?
The moment Jamie Laing ran 150 miles and cemented himself in Comic Relief and Manchester Marathon history (Credit: The Manc Group)
While the exact details are still yet to be confirmed, Mancs taking on the biggest run of the year will run through ‘Laing Lane’ or ‘Jamie’s Junction’ when the Marathon rolls around on Sunday, 27 April.
The event team are still waiting to verify which portion of the 2025 route the 36-year-old, having passed through the likes of Stockport, Chorlton and other areas on his way to 0161, but there’s no question about what needs to happen – it’s just the name we need to settle on.
Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) UK, the country’s leading mass participation events company, said of the achievement: “Jamie’s challenge is nothing short of heroic – five ultramarathons in five days is no easy feat!
“Not only has he crossed the finish line, but he’s also raised an incredible £2.7 million for Comic Relief. If he did pass through our 2025 route, we’ll be proud to name that stretch after him – a lasting tribute to his endurance, energy, and impact.”
We’re just over a month away from the 2025 race, the fourth-largest in all of Europe, and with a couple of members of The Manc team taking it on again this year, we for one cannot wait.
A new finish line has already been announced for this year’s route and while we can’t tell you exactly which part of the Manchester Marathon will be named after Jamie Laing just yet, we promise to give it an extra pump when we pass through wherever it is.
It’s also worth reminding that you can still donate to his incredible Red Nose Day fundraiser right HERE.
Greater Manchester’s running culture continues to flourish with more clubs, events and representation than ever. You love to see it.
Emily Sergeant -
12th August 2022 
