Hoss (pictured right) was the first baby to start of the trend at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, born on the 24th April 2008, standing at 6ft 2ins at birth, he’s the biggest male giraffe ever to be born at the park! Born to Mother Cupid and Father Sterling, he’s running with the rest of the giraffe family on the Serengeti Plain, where it is often common other members of the family to get involved with the care of newborn giraffes.

Following swiftly after baby Hoss, Busch Gardens welcomed a new baby white rhino to the park on the 8th May 2008, he’s the third white rhino calf to be born to Mother Mlelani and Father Tombo at the park.

Then, in July, the Serengeti Plain welcomed 8 new wildebeest, seven male and one female (pictured right bottom-left).

And finally, Busch Gardens’ newest Animal Ambassador in training, one month old Scout, a Carribbean Flamingo, who’s being hand raised by the zoological team at Busch Gardens (pictured right bottom-right).
As an Animal Ambassador, he’ll make international and national media appearances, visit schools and special events to educate people about the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Once he’s older, he’ll start to lose his grey colouring and turn pink from the carotenoid pigments in the shrimp and algae Flamingos eat.

So, all in all, it’s been a busy year for the animal (and human!) parents at Busch Gardens!
Look out for more updates on new arrivals at the Worlds of Discovery parks.