A tall and spotted newcomer has strolled into the Bay Area, and this giraffe is causing quite a stir at the Oakland Zoo. The 13-month-old male giraffe, standing at an impressive 10 feet tall, arrived on Tuesday night from Audubon Nature Institute in Louisiana, according to a post on the zoo's Facebook page. He joins five other giraffes in Oakland's African Savanna exhibit, but there's a catch: he's without a name. And zoo officials are looking to the public to choose one.
The giraffe hitched a ride across the country in a specially designed trailer, part of the AZA Species Survival Program (SSP), which aims to ensure a sustainable, genetically diverse population of these long-necked mammals. Now, as reported by SFist, he's got a temporary home at the zoo—separated by a fence from his new comrades until the vets give him the green light to join the herd.
The Oakland Zoo has initiated a naming contest that's got tongues wagging. Until Monday, animal aficionados can cast their vote for one of the three Swahili names: Enzi (meaning "powerful"), Nuru ("the light"), or Kovu ("scar"), which the zoo says pays homage to the giraffe's ancestral lands. "We’re thrilled to welcome a new 13-month-old male giraffe to our herd," the Oakland Zoo declared in their social media blast.
Voting will be opened to the public online, and the winning name will be announced this coming Monday. Enthusiasts can post their preferences by commenting on the zoo's Facebook, X, or Instagram posts linked to the contest. While he awaits his new name, the giraffe, still nameless, is getting acclimated to his new environment and is reportedly doing well.
The Oakland Zoo, known for its contributions to animal conservation, hopes the contest will not only endow their giraffe with a proper name but also shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by giraffe populations in the wild. The public's engagement with the naming contest is seen as a positive step towards raising awareness for giraffe conservation efforts as visitors learn more about these majestic creatures.
