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At just six weeks, Kojito the baby giraffe is already used to an audience.

The bright-eyed calf was born in the middle of a shallow creek in Monarto Zoo's giraffe enclosure in front of a busload of spectators.

Giraffe keeper Haidee Taylor said the rare sight was was "very exciting" for the unsuspecting crowd. "There were lots of photos, lots of cameras going off," she said. "It was raining and quite wet at the time and the only problem we might have had was that it was a bit slippery, but she was fine."

Now when she is in front of an audience Kojito is well adjusted. Kojito - which means creek in Swahili - is the zoo's 23rd giraffe and is the eighth child to mother Mutanda, 15, who last gave birth to Totsiens in February last year.

Ms Taylor described Kojito as occasionally "frisky" but relaxed.

"We've had close to 30 born out here now and we definitely still get excited when we have a baby," Ms Taylor said.

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