Unique Unspotted Giraffe Born in the US
A unique spotless giraffe has been born in the "Brights" zoo located in Tennessee, USA. The calf was born with a uniform brown coloration, standing at a height of 183 cm already, and it's now visible to the public in the zoo, as reported by The Guardian.
The coat of the young giraffe features a consistent shade of brown, setting it apart from the typical giraffes with their characteristic spots. Caretakers at the zoo mention that the calf is thriving under the attentive care of its vigilant mother.
Within the zoo, this newborn giraffe stands alone in its kind, given that the birth of monochromatic giraffes is an exceptionally rare occurrence. Furthermore, giraffe experts at the zoo have stated that they consider it the "only one-toned splotchy giraffe living anywhere on the planet."
The zoo is currently seeking the public's help in naming the baby giraffe. They've narrowed it down to four choices: Kipekee, meaning "unique," Firyali, meaning "unusual or extraordinary," Shakiri, meaning "she's the most beautiful," and Jamella, meaning "of great beauty."
On their Facebook page, the zoo is conducting a contest where users can vote for their favorite name. The poll will run until Labor Day (celebrated on September 4th in the US), when the zoo will select the name that garners the most votes.
The zoo hopes that the arrival of this exceptional giraffe will draw attention to the issues animals face in the wild. Tony Bright, the founder of the zoo, emphasized that wild giraffe populations are facing a concerning decline, with a 40% decrease over the past three decades.
"The international spotlight on our patternless giraffe calf is bringing much-needed attention to giraffe conservation in the wild. Wild populations are slowly spiraling towards extinction," Bright stated.
The Bright's Zoo has declared its active commitment to giraffe preservation through their successful breeding program and by contributing to organizations like Save Giraffes Now, which work in Africa to protect this species.
The spotted pattern on a giraffe's coat serves as camouflage in the wild and aids in regulating body temperature. Thanks to the network of blood vessels in the spots, the animals can regulate heat loss, ensuring optimal thermoregulation.