A zoo in Tennessee has proudly introduced a one-of-a-kind addition to its family: a rare giraffe born without any spots.
Brights Zoo, located in Limestone, Tennessee, announced the arrival of this extraordinary creature on July 31. Experts from around the world have marveled at what could be the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe in the world.
In a recent statement that piqued the curiosity of those who love to go to zoos, the sanctuary initiated a naming contest for the newborn giraffe, eagerly inviting visitors to the zoo to be a part of creating its name.
Spotless Giraffes Are Extremely Rare
The history of spotless giraffes is, well, there’s not much history at all about them. The last recorded instance of a spotless giraffe was from back in 1972 in Tokyo. This giraffe, named Toshiko, was born at the Ueno Zoo, according to photos posted on Alamy.
Reticulated giraffes, a species most popularly known for their brown and orange spots, originate from Africa. Their conservation status, however, is alarming; the Giraffe Conservation Foundation marked them as endangered in 2018. This latest arrival at Brights Zoo is considered by the staff and visitors a great blessing.
What The Zoo Has To Say About The Giraffe
The zoo said they are leveraging the spotlight to draw attention to the hardships that the species faces in the wild. The founder of Brights Zoo, Tony Bright, emphasized, “Wild populations are silently slipping into extinction, with 40% of the wild giraffe population lost in just the last 3 decades.” This spotlight has indeed been effective, as people’s attention shifts to the urgent cause of giraffe conservation.
As the naming contest gains momentum, four captivating names emerge as frontrunners: Kipekee, embodying uniqueness; Firyali, hinting at the unusual and extraordinary; Shakiri, resonating with “she is most beautiful”; and Jamella, signifying “one of great beauty.”
The name contests “will run until Labor Day, September 4. On that day, we will tally up all the votes and announce her name,” according to the zoo’s Facebook page.
As the world continues to be in awe of this remarkable creature, experts from far and wide are gathering to provide insights. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation, along with other knowledgeable sources, promises more information about this rare phenomenon.
As we eagerly await the chosen name for this majestic creature and to hear more information about it, you can go ahead now and watch the FOX News video below covering the story.