AN ANIMAL baby boom is stunning staff at an East Anglian zoo, as eight new arrivals were welcomed last week.

Lizzie Parry

AN ANIMAL baby boom is stunning staff at an East Anglian zoo, as eight new arrivals were welcomed last week.

After a surge in the number of births earlier this year, keepers are today scratching their heads as many of Banham Zoo's inhabitants have produced young in the last three weeks.

A Colobus monkey, a Goeldi's monkey, flamingos, spoonbills, and baby Mongolian sheep are among the new residents.

But the highlight for staff was the birth of a baby giraffe on Wednesday, September 9.

The calf, a female, has increased the size of the giraffe herd at Banham to seven, and she joins two other calves born last year.

Mother and baby are currently in the new giraffe house, which opened in 2007, and keepers have said it will not be long before she is introduced to the rest of the herd, including her sister Ruby, born last year.

Mike Woolham, the zoo's animal manager, said: “There is no doubt that the number of births we have experienced during the last 12 to 18 months is unprecedented in the zoo's recent history.

“It is testament to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes by the keepers and all the support staff.”

Since the beginning of July the zoo has also bred many other birds and mammals including red-breasted geese, golden lion tamarins, Geoffroy's marmosets and a baby penguin.

During the last baby boom at the zoo, about five months ago, Josie the giraffe, and Kuzma and Vasya the Siberian tiger cubs were welcomed to Banham.