It's a Girl! The Leo Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich, Conn., announced the news that a healthy baby giraffe was born to its mother "Petal" who is a rare Rothschild Subspecies. Now a chance to name the baby girl giraffe is going on until Friday of this week, March 29.
The baby giraffe was born last Friday, March 22, and was standing and feeding within 30 minutes of birth. It looks exactly as a miniature giraffe should, standing 6 feet tall, about a third of the 18 feet that it should eventually reach. The baby is adorable.
Rothschild subspecies are native to Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, but only exist in the first two countries now because of human encroachment onto their lands and poaching. They are named after Lord Walter Rothschild, who first described the species in Africa.
A previous contest was held to guess when the baby giraffe would be born, and the winner was Victoria Frunzi of Lansdale, Penn. She will get to meet the baby giraffe with her family at the Leo Zoological Conservation Center.
The herd currently consists of five giraffes, and two are currently pregnant. It is kept at an off-exhibit site in order to limit stress on the rare animals.
Rothschild giraffes have lighter markings, and none below their knees. They are listed on the Red List of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUNC). It is hoped that they can be saved from extinction in their native continent.
Each household can only submit one entry for the naming contest. May the best name win, and congratulations to Petal and her beautiful newborn baby giraffe.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
