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. Born to proud parents Malaika and Congo, this baby is now Malaika’s and Congo’s second calf, with their first being Fennessy, born two years ago.
Her mother, Malaika, is doing a great job at taking care of her new baby and encouraging her to explore. The father, Congo, turned 9 years old during the zoo’s World Giraffe Day celebration in June and has now fathered seven calves, five of whom are females.
Measuring an impressive 6 foot 6 inches, the 6-day-old giraffe is thriving, displaying a very curious and personable nature. Zookeepers have observed her older half sister, Sara Ann, nuzzling and investigating the new arrival.
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. The three options to choose from are: Zahara (meaning flower), Uzuri (meaning beauty), and Udadisi (meaning curiosity). 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.
“We have chosen these 3 names because they reflect a giraffe’s personality, like curiosity and beauty. And for this particular giraffe, also a flower.” shared Katelyn Zak, giraffe zookeeper. “We are so excited for the new baby and for our herd that keeps growing.”
Currently, the baby is bonding with her mother off exhibit and will join the herd on exhibit soon. Stay tuned for updates on abilenezoo.org and Abilene Zoo’s social media platforms.
