We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of a very special new resident here at Blair Drummond Safari Park – Nóinín, a 7-year-old female Rothschild’s giraffe! She joined our giraffe herd on the 1st of May, and her arrival is an exciting step in our ongoing commitment to endangered species conservation.
Rothschild’s giraffes, like Nóinín, have faced significant challenges in the wild. Since the 1980s, their population has dropped by 30%, and fewer than 2,000 remain in their natural habitats. This makes Nóinín’s arrival here all the more important as she’s joining us as part of a carefully managed breeding programme designed to help protect this vulnerable species.
Nóinín is being paired with Sifa, a Rothschild’s giraffe who arrived here in 2023, and we’re hopeful that together, they’ll form a successful breeding pair. Through the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), this pairing plays a vital role in ensuring the survival of Rothschild’s giraffes in the long term. The EEP helps to maintain genetic diversity in captive populations and supports global conservation efforts, making Nóinín’s arrival a key part of a much bigger effort.
Our Animal Collection Manager, Kristine Fennessy Alexander, is particularly excited about the new addition. She said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Nóinín to the park. Rothschild’s giraffes are facing significant challenges in the wild, and breeding programmes like this one are essential in helping secure the future of the species. Nóinín has already begun exploring her new surroundings, and we’re excited to see her and Sifa hopefully form a successful breeding pair in the future.”
Nóinín’s journey from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland to Blair Drummond was no small feat. Standing at 16 feet tall, she travelled in a specially designed transporter to ensure her comfort. The transfer involved a three-hour ferry crossing from Dublin to Holyhead, followed by a 337-mile road trip to reach us here in Scotland. It’s all part of the careful planning that goes into moving an animal of this size and importance.
We’re excited to see how Nóinín settles into her new home, which features a spacious, naturalistic mixed species environment. Visitors will soon have the chance to observe her and learn more about Rothschild’s giraffes, their conservation challenges, and the role breeding programmes like this one play in protecting them. We encourage you to stop by and say hello to Nóinín as she gets to know her new surroundings!
Stay tuned for more updates on her journey as she settles in and forms her new bond with Sifa. We can’t wait for you to meet her in person soon!