Canberra's National Zoo and Aquarium has doubled in size with the unveiling of an open range area, which houses a baby giraffe that has never before been shown off to the public.
New animals have been settled into the 12-hectare area of land over the past few years as the area was constructed around them.
Zoo owner Richard Tindale said it was hoped the new space would further the zoo's international breeding program.
"This just gives us more scope to do it because we now have more land, more enclosures and a greater facility to get involved in those breeding programs," he said.
The new species now calling the zoo home include maned wolves, a zebra calf, elk and rare white rhinos.
"This just takes it to the next level to make the enclosures bigger but keep people in range," Mr Tindale said.
Baby giraffe Kebibi makes debut
With the zoo's expansion complete, one of its closest held secrets and evidence of its breeding success is on show for the first time.
Baby giraffe Kebibi was born last year but has been kept under wraps until now.
"She is just the cutest little thing, she is quite inquisitive, she is very cheeky," keeper Amanda Hadley said.
Ms Hadley helped to truck male giraffe Shaba from Mogo Zoo in 2015 to breed with a resident female, Mzungu.
"It's been quite frustrating because you just want to shout it out to everyone, but now that we can, finally: We can officially say we have had our first giraffe calf," she said.
Ms Hadley said now with a little extra space, it was hoped another young calf could be along in the near future.
"Shaba is a bit of a stud, so I'm very hopeful they will have a second one," Ms Hadley said.
