A new arrival at Banham Zoo is already towering over most of its keepers and visitors, despite being just a few weeks old.

The latest addition to the tourist attraction's menagerie of more than 1,000 animals is a giraffe calf that was born on the evening of April 26.

The birth is the third baby for Aisling, who was one of the first giraffe to take residence in the zoo's giraffe house, which was opened to the public in March 2008 and currently houses six giraffe.

The male calf, standing over 5ft tall, has yet to be named by keepers.

Lynne Wilshaw, zoo marketing manager, said that staff gave mum and baby additional privacy for the first few days whilst they bonded, but visitors were now being allowed into the house again to see the latest member of the giraffe herd.

'Mother and baby will remain separated from the main herd for a little while yet just to be certain that the calf is strong enough to withstand life with his much taller companions, but it won't be long before mum and baby will be reintegrated back into the main group,' she said.

Aisling's previous calf, Honey, is now 19-months-old and is expected to be introduced to her baby brother later this month.