The calf - whose name, appropriately, means "long neck" - was born in the early hours of Monday, March 25. He's the third calf born at the zoo this year.

Shingo is the 25th calf sired by Unami, who will now retire.

Keeper Nick Bourke said the new giraffe was "a very confident young fella".

"Usually the whole crew come in at night time and he's still out roaming by himself, which is unusual. Usually they hang out with mum and stay close to the herd. He's inquisitive," Mr Bourke said.

As for Unami, he will retire from breeding.

"He's only a 13-year-old male, he's only halfway through his life but we'll ship him around the corner and he'll join the bachelor group where he'll live out the rest of his days happy with the boys," Mr Bourke said.

Have a look at Shingo when he was one day old.

He is expected to be replaced by a young male from Mogo Zoo.

"We're just negotiating the logistics of moving the giraffe, obviously it's a logistical nightmare to move a giraffe. But he's pencilled in to come mid-year and join in with the breeding group," Mr Bourke said.

There are currently 15 giraffes in the main exhibit and another four in the bachelor group on the Savannah.

"I believe this is the largest Australasian herd at the moment but we've got bigger and better plans for the future. We are expanding our giraffe exhibit, making more space, and that means we'll need more giraffe in the future," Mr Bourke said.

The best time to see the new giraffes on the exhibit is in the morning when they are still active.