Newborn giraffe fed by staff at Vancouver zoo

Staff have had to take over the mothering duties for a giraffe born two days ago at the Greater Vancouver Zoo after the animal's mother refused to nurse it.

The 1.8-metres-tall, 58.5-kilogram female Rothschild's giraffe was born about 9 p.m. PT Sunday and has been declared healthy by zoo veterinarian Bruce Burton

The mother giraffe, Eleah, has not taken to its offspring, according to the zoo.

"Eleah is not interested in nursing the baby, so zoo staff has taken over as her surrogate moms," zoo spokeswoman Jody Henderson said in a release Tuesday.

The animal is being kept separate at the zoo but is not completely isolated. Its mother, while not interested in nursing, is not showing any violent rejection of the newborn.

"All members of her giraffe family — mom, dad and brother — are able to touch and communicate with the baby over a safety wall," Henderson said.

The zoo was investigated by the B.C. SPCA after the death of an 80-day-old giraffe three years ago.

Burton told CBC News at the time that the giraffe had gone through a "difficult" birth and suffered from pneumonia. The mother had been drugged during labour and later stepped on the newborn giraffe, likely breaking its ribs.

There was no indication from the zoo of problems with the birth on Sunday.

The young giraffe will be on public display through a viewing window for one hour Wednesday afternoon at the Aldergrove zoo, 55 kilometres east of Vancouver,

A full-grown female giraffe can reach a height of 4.6 metres and can weigh up to one tonne, Henderson said.