Zoo Asks for Help to Name Baby Giraffe

Public can vote for their favorite name

 

The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo’s 10-day-old baby giraffe has everything he needs – except a name!  So the zoo is inviting the public to help choose a name for the 6’5” tall baby.

 

Starting today, the zoo will allow people to vote for their favorite baby giraffe name on the zoo's web site, www.kidszoo.org.   Zoo keepers in the African Journey area of the zoo selected their top five names, and those names are listed on the web site.   Choices include Jafari, which means “dignified” in Swahili, and Nishari, which means “full of vigor.”

 

Most of the name choices are of African origin to reflect the native east African range of the giraffe, according to Amber Franze, Area Manager for the African Journey.  When translated to English, some of the names seem to capture the baby’s unique personality.  “He’s a very bold and curious baby,” says Franze. 

 

The male baby was born to 18-year-old female giraffe Zuri at the zoo at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 5.  He was standing within an hour of birth, and was nursing a few hours later, both important indicators of good health for the baby.  This baby represents the first successful giraffe birth at the zoo since 1996.

 

So far, the baby has not entered the grassy 2-acre giraffe exhibit where he will be seen by the public – he’s still being introduced to the zoo’s four other giraffes behind the scenes.  But on Tuesday, when the baby was allowed outside his barn for the first time, Franze says he seemed anxious to meet his many human admirers:  “He ran all the way to the wooden gate that leads into the exhibit,” leaving his mother behind, Franze says.  “Zuri was not very happy with him.”

 

Voting on the baby giraffe’s name will continue through 12:00 noon on August 31.  The name with the most votes will be announced later that day. 

 

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the area’s major attractions, drawing 500,000 visitors every year.  The zoo was named one of the country’s “Ten Best Zoos for Kids.”

 

The zoo is open every day 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until October 14.  Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children age 2-14, and $7.00 for seniors over age 60.  Babies age 1 and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free.