Abilene Zoo Asks People to Vote on Their Favorite Name for Brand New Baby Giraffe
There's a new baby Giraffe at the Abilene Zoo in Texas, and the zoo staff is asking for help choosing a name for the adorable baby girl.
On July 26, 2024, the Abilene Zoo posted an update to social media about the little giraffe and asked people to vote for the perfect name. Take a look!
On Facebook, the official account for the Abilene Zoo shared a few new photos of the baby girl and asked people to vote for the perfect name.
Related: Baby Giraffe Stands Up for the First Time as Mama Watches and It’s Incredible
"A joyous new addition has arrived at Abilene Zoo. A new baby giraffe was born on Saturday, July 20th, during Abilene Zoo’s birthday celebration, Zippity Zoo Day – making her arrival even more memorable," the zoo shared on its website.
The baby, a girl, was born to parents Congo and Malaika. These proud giraffe parents had their first baby together two years ago, and the new little girl is a very proud addition to the crew.
"Measuring an impressive 6 foot 6 inches, the 6-day-old giraffe is thriving, displaying a very curious and personable nature," the zoo shared. "Zookeepers have observed her older half-sister, Sara Ann, nuzzling and investigating the new arrival."
But now that she's here, doing well, and has settled in with mama, the zoo is hoping to give her a name that follows tradition and speaks to who she is.
"Her name will follow the tradition of Swahili giraffe names, and Abilene Zoo is inviting the public to help them name their newest family member.
To help the public narrow down the name for the new little giraffe, and to stick to their tradition of names in Swahili, there are three names to choose from and the public is being asked to vote on their favorite of the three options.
Voters can choose Zahara, which means "flower," Uzuri, which means "beauty, or Udadisi, which means "curiosity."
According to the zoo's press release, “We have chosen these three names because they reflect a giraffe’s personality, like curiosity and beauty. And for this particular giraffe, also a flower,” Katelyn Zak, giraffe zookeeper, said. We are so excited for the new baby and for our herd that keeps growing.”
Voters are asked to head to the zoo's Facebook page and leave a comment on which of the three names gets their vote. "People can vote for their favorite name on Abilene Zoo’s Facebook Page, and the name with the most votes will be announced on Friday, August 2nd," the zoo shared.
Fast Facts About the Giraffes at Abilene Zoo
"Giraffes are among the most stunning animals walking the African savannahs. Set apart by their statuesque heights and graceful movements, these towering giants are a testament to the beauty of Africa’s diverse wildlife," the zoo shares online.
According to the zoo, the two most popular giraffe species are the Maasai and Reticulated.
Tsavo National Park explains that the best way to tell the difference between the Reticulated Giraffe and the Maasai Giraffe is through their spots.
"The Reticulated Giraffe has brown-orange patches separated by thick, bright white lines, unlike other giraffes like the Maasai Giraffe, which is noticeably darker, with patches separated by irregular, light brown lines all the way down to their legs," they explain.