The Louisville Zoo is inviting the public to help name one of its newest additions, a male Masai giraffe calf born on August 9.
This is the first giraffe born at the Zoo in 12 years. Now, giraffe keepers have selected three potential names that reflect both the calf’s spirited personality and the native habitats of Masai giraffes. Zoo guests can participate in naming the calf by voting for their favorite option from the following:
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Tana (ta-NAH): The name of the longest river in Kenya, where Masai giraffes reside.
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Nyasi (nee-YAH-see): Means “grass” in Swahili, the language spoken in Kenya, reflecting the savanna grasslands where giraffes live.
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Mdogo (em-DOE-go): Means “little” or “young” in Swahili.
Voting continues through Monday, September 16 at 11 p.m. Guests can cast their votes once daily.
The giraffe calf is currently on exhibit with his mother, 7-year-old Kianga, and father, 8-year-old Baridi. Guests can also watch the family bond in off-exhibit spaces through the Zoo’s behind-the-scenes giraffe camera.
Masai giraffes, native to East Africa, are the largest subspecies of giraffe. They are distinguished by their irregular, star-shaped spots which are like a fingerprint and unique to each individual animal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species categorizes giraffes as vulnerable. Masai giraffe populations have declined by more than 50 percent in the last 30 years due to habitat loss and poaching. The Louisville Zoo is committed to the conservation of this majestic species through education, breeding programs, and support of conservation efforts in the wild.
Psst: Boo at the Zoo starts September 28, watch this enews for an opportunity to win free tickets to the "merry, not scary" celebration!
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