IT'S A BOY!! NC ZOO WELCOMES BABY GIRAFFE
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he North Carolina Zoo announced a soaring addition to its family in May. The Zoo’s 13-yearold giraffe Leia gave birth to a calf on Saturday, May 20. The calf was born to parents Leia (cow and firsttime mom), born in 2009 at Zoo Miami and arrived at the Zoo in 2014, and Jack (bull), born in 2008 at Dickerson Park Zoo and arrived at the Zoo in 2009. The Zoo has had 12 previous giraffe births, making this one lucky number 13. The calf was about six feet tall and 145 pounds when born. He is expected to grow to 10-12 feet by his first birthday and reach full height at four years old. Mom and calf rejoined the herd—or tower (group of giraffes) on habitat and in public view earlier this summer. The public is encouraged to tune in to the Zoo's social media channels for photos, updates, and information about how the calf is doing. The Zoo announced the name chosen for the
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baby giraffe on World Giraffe Day, June 21st after the public was invited to vote in an online poll from a list of names provided by the Zoo’s giraffe keepers. The public naming poll had a soaring response, with more than 100,000 votes! The winning name was “Fenn,” after the founders of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Julian and Stephanie Fennessy. World Giraffe Day is celebrated every year on June 21. The other names offered were: • Nelson: After Nelson Mandela. • Mosi: African name used for "firstborn son." • Tamu: Swahili for "sweet" • Jackson: Dad is named Jack, "Son of Jack." • Bongani: This Zulu name means "grateful, thankful." In a combined statement from the Zoo’s Giraffe Zookeepers Kristi Myers, Jason Balder, Mary Wilson, and Kelly Davis: “Leia and Fenn are doing amazingly well. Our team could not be prouder of how attentive