Can you come up with the name for the baby giraffe that was just born at the Leo Zoological Conservation Center? A contest is being held to find a name for the newborn, and yours could be it!
Last Friday, the zoo was given a rare treat when one of its animals, a rare Rothschild Subspecies giraffe by the name of "Petal," gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
This is great news for the zoo, as the Rothschild giraffes are an endangered species. The fact that this baby was born with perfect health only adds to the optimism. Standing at 6 feet tall (it will eventually grow to be 18 feet), the newborn already has the strength of a two week old giraffe.
"She's just having a little rest by mama now,'' says Leo Zoological Conservation Center founder and director Marcella Leone. "She's nursing and getting to meet the rest of the herd, and she'll be out in our indoor paddock in about a week."
The unnamed newborn is one of only about 670 Rothschild giraffes left in the world, a subspecies named for Lord Walter Rothschild, a zoologist who studied the animals in the late 1800s. She will soon join a herd of five Rothschild giraffes at the conservation center.
The only question left answering now: what will they name the little cutie? The Today's show staff already gave their input. Matt Lauer went with the name Cujo, Al Roker opted for Muffy, and Tamron Hall voted for ZZ (from the ZZ Top classic, "Legs"). What do you think her name should be?
Several readers have already sent us their suggestions. "Jigsaw" was one that immediately stood out, due of course to the giraffe's puzzle-like spots. "Bambi" was another interesting choice, though not a deer she is every bit as cute as the Disney original. Finally, one astute reader has suggested the name "Camie," in reference to the giraffe constellation Camelopardalis. Clever! You still have till this Friday to suggest a name for this adorable newborn.
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