Chatty camel born at zoo is 'squeaking at his mum'

Mum Orla is said to be "very protective" of her new baby calf

A chatty camel calf who was born at a UK zoo appears to be "strong and healthy", his keepers have said.

Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire said the baby boy, who is yet to be named, was born on 18 May to first-time-mum Orla and dad Oakley.

Camel keeper Gracie Gee said Orla was "constantly reassuring him with murmurs and noises – and you can hear him 'talking' back with squeaks, which is very sweet".

The fluffy new addition joins his half-sister Sally, who was born in April 2024, and will live with the zoo's herd of five adults.

The new calf, who shares a dad with his half sister Sally, has yet to be named

"Orla is very protective and attentive of her newborn," added Ms Gee.

"Despite being thought of as grumpy, camels are very nurturing and caring parents, and it's wonderful to see Orla proving to be a natural mum already.

"The calf seems strong and healthy – he was walking within hours of being born, and visitors will be able to see him getting used to his long, lanky legs as he races around the camels' vast paddock."

Whipsnade Zoo's domestic Bactrian camels are an ambassador species for their critically endangered cousins, the wild camel in Mongolia and China.

The charity behind Whipsnade Zoo is supporting conservation efforts in Mongolia, including in the Gobi Desert.

Ms Gee said there were as few as 950 wild camels left in the deserts of Mongolia and China, with "hunting and water scarcity caused by human-activity largely to blame".

"Natural predation from the grey wolf is also putting pressure on the remaining population," Ms Gee said.

Mum Orla carried her baby for 13 months before giving birth in May