ZOOKEEPERS at a Malton zoo have got their hands full thanks to a summer baby boom. 

Flamingo Land Resort zoo and theme park near Malton has welcomed a rare baby giraffe, lemurs, penguins and zebras to the park recently. 

Director of marketing Sarah Mills said that this month the park celebrated the birth of a zebra foal to parents Guiness and Vendela. 

"She was up and about almost straight away and can be found in our mixed-species exhibit of giraffe, zebra and ostrich," she said. 

"A rare baby Rothschild giraffe was born on March 22 as well taking our herd to seven." 

This was followed closely by the birth of several ring-tailed lemur babies and finally some penguins before the zebra foal was born. 

Sarah said: "Penguins breed twice a year usually around spring and autumn and our Humboldt penguins have therefore been staying in their nests to look after their eggs and newly hatched chicks. 

"The female will lay two eggs into a burrow and these will be incubated for about 40 days until the eggs hatch, with both parents sharing the work."