Pets
'Brave And Bold Giraffe' Welcomed By The Oakland Zoo
The newcomer is settling into his new home, but needs a name. Here's how to vote for one of the three choices.
OAKLAND, CA — The Oakland Zoo has a handsome new giraffe, a 13-month-old male transferred from Audubon Nature Institute in Louisiana.
His transfer was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan which ensures the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied zoo population.
He arrived in comfort, in a specially designed carrier for giraffes, which accommodated his approximately 10-foot height and gave him enough room to move around during his journey.
The giraffe is settling in nicely.
"He is a brave and bold giraffe who's adjusting quite well. We're thrilled to get to know him and watch him develop a bond with his new herd at the Zoo," says Amy Phelps, Oakland Zoo's Zoological Manager.
We're told that while exploring his space, he discovered a bamboo wind chime made by his keepers and he has become enamored.
Vote for the giraffe's name
The young male still needs a name. The zoo has whittled down the list of possibilities and is leaving it to the public to make a final determination. Here are the choices, all Swahili names:
- Enzi (meaning powerful) - pronounced En- see
- Nuru (meaning the light) - pronounced Noo-roo
- Kovu (meaning scar) - pronounced Koh-Voo
It's a quick contest — voting open on an Thursday and the winner will be announced on Monday. Vote on the Zoo’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter social media pages.
Meeting his new pals
Giraffes are highly social animals and maintain relationships with many individuals in their natural habitats. This new addition brings the Oakland Zoo's giraffe population to six. The giraffes are ages one to 12. Kendi, a female giraffe, was born at the Zoo last year. Having two giraffes close in age will shift the dynamic in the herd.
Right now, the newcomer is being held in a separate enclosure and will get to know his herd mates through sound, smell, and sight. When his Animal and Veterinary Care teams determine he is ready, he will move to the giraffe habitat at the Zoo’s African Savanna area.
Ensuring the species
Reticulated giraffe populations have experienced a 50 percent decline in the wild over the past three and a half decades because of illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss, which has led to their endangered status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
The Oakland Zoo supports The Reticulated Giraffe Project by raising awareness, sending staff to Africa, and fundraising events like Brunch for the Wild Bunch. Visit the Zoo’s website to learn more about how Oakland Zoo is Taking Action for giraffes.
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