Sharni the giraffe gives birth to baby Karn at Mogo Zoo

Karn is the first baby for Mogo Zoo's newest male giraffe, who arrived from New Zealand.

Zoo owner Sally Padey said "he's got all his fingers and toes" and had already spent some time out in the sun.

She said mother Sharni has "got it down pat" having given birth "half a dozen" times already.

"She usually does it right in the middle of 200 people," Ms Padey said.

She said labour could take anywhere between an hour to a few hours, but Sharni was usually in labour for three hours at the most.

After birth, Sharni cleaned up the baby and zoo staff checked to see whether the placenta was whole.

Ms Padey said it would take him a few days to "pump up", just as a baby foal would.

"We've got them separate from the herd for a few days then they will join the herd for the school holidays," she said.

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Sharni gives birth for the fifth time

Ms Padey said there were only males or females at some other zoos but Mogo Zoo had both, having been part of the giraffe breeding program for a number of years.

She said the giraffe species was very family-orientated.

Sharni's daughter, Binty, is also pregnant and due to give birth soon.

Ms Padey said it would be another few months before the zoo's newest gorilla, Kisane, is out for public display.

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Mogo Zoo's new black-back gorilla, Kisane