The public is being asked to help name a baby giraffe born in Cork's Fota Wildlife Park - and offering a VIP family experience at the park to the person whose suggestion gets picked.

The two-week-old female calf is already five feet tall but has yet to be named.

She was born on September 21st to mother Sapphire who carried her for 15 months and like all giraffe mothers gave birth to her baby whilst standing. This meant that the first experience for the calf was a 6 foot drop to the ground.

Lead Warden at the park, Aidan Raferty said "we are delighted with her as she has been really active and seems very happy with the rest of the herd since she went out in the Savannah last weekend”. 

The calf is the youngest of the park's Rothschild giraffe herd, which is now 12 strong. The Rothschild giraffe's are the tallest of the sub-species, making them the tallest land animals in the world.

The baby giraffe will join a long list of animals born at the park given Irish names.

“There has been a tradition here since the park opened to give all the giraffe calves an Irish name, some of the ones we have had over the years included Sonia, Clona, Nollaig, Roisin and at the moment we have a Clodagh, Cuileann, Eadaoin and Blaithin” added Mr Rafferty.

Giraffes at Fota are sent across the world, with some going as far afield as Australia.

Fota's looking for an Irish name for the youngster and all suggestions can be submitted through their website.