BABY giraffes and rhinos susceptible to the bitter cold are being treated to heated stalls and homes in Dublin Zoo.

Like most animals from the African plains, Dublin Zoo's newest members, an unnamed month-old giraffe, and seven-month-old Sandy, also a giraffe, and baby rhino Zuki, are finding our Arctic weather conditions tough.

But caring staff at Dublin Zoo are ensuring that the babies are kept snug in their heated homes.

"The giraffes don't get out and about a lot these days due to the frosty weather," zookeeper John McGuinness told the Herald.

"They have access to outside so when they go out, we go in, clean their house and they're normally straight back in afterwards.

"All their house is heated. They have also deep litter beddings, which contains bark chippings. We top this up every day with fresh stuff and this helps keep the heat in," John explained.

Snuggle

"The baby giraffes are more susceptible to the cold. We always try to clean the house when they are taking a stretch outside, but if it's too cold, they will stay in the house and we'll work around them," he explained.

"Their house is nice and warm and they will snuggle up to their mam at night if it gets really cold," he explained.

The unnamed baby giraffe -- visitors to Dublin Zoo are invited to enter a competition to name her -- is bonding nicely with her herd.

She was the second new addition to the group which welcomed Sandy last July.

John also works with the rhinos in Dublin Zoo and said they deal with the cold differently.

"Giraffes are much calmer while the rhinos are full head-on," laughed John.

"We welcomed a baby rhino, Zuki, to the zoo last May and she's doing really well," he added.

Like the giraffes, the rhinos have their own heated stall and are looked after by dedicated crew in Dublin Zoo.

However, the rhinos have to take a little bit more care when it comes to sauntering around outside.

Big ears

"Because they have such big ears, they are more susceptible to frostbite when it's really cold. They will walk in and out all day from their heated house -- most of the time they will have a run around and we will go in then and clean the house for them."

Despite the cold, John believes it is still good for the animals to go out and get their fresh air.

"They can get a little bit agitated if they are kept in for so long. If they want to go out, they have the option to go out.

"We don't want to keep them locked in all the time, it's good for them to mingle.".

Last year, Dublin Zoo had something of a baby boom, which included a sea lion calf, four flamingos, three maras, two yellow- backed chattering lories (parrots), a South American tapir, a pony, a leopard tortoise and an elephant.

jlast@herald.ie

- Jane Last