Family
NC Zoo: Help name 6-foot-tall baby giraffe calf
The North Carolina Zoo has opened a naming poll for a male calf born to mama giraffe Leia on May 20.
The North Carolina Zoo has opened a naming poll for a male calf born to mama giraffe Leia on May 20.
The public is invited to help choose the baby giraffe's name using a Google Forms poll.
There are six names to choose from:
- Fenn: After the founders of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Julian and Stephanie Fennessey.
- Nelson: After the famous leader Nelson Mandela.
- Mosi: African name used for "first born son.”
- Jackson: “Son of Jack,” the calf’s dad is named Jack.
- Tamu: Swahili for "sweet" since he was born on World Bee Day, and bees make sweet honey.
- Bongani: This Zulu name means “grateful, thankful.”
Giraffe Zookeepers Kristi Myers, Jason Balder, Mary Wilson and Kelly Davis said in May, “Leia and her calf are doing amazingly well. Our team could not be prouder of how attentive Leia has been with her firstborn. Mom and calf are bonding behind the scenes.
This new arrival brings the team lots of happiness and excitement to have some young, spunky energy around. The rest of the giraffe tower – Jack, Turbo and Amelia – are all very curious of the newbie and are bopping noses whenever they can.”
