Kansas City Zoo seeking the public’s help naming its ‘spotty’ new resident
The Kansas City Zoo’s Masai giraffe herd welcomed a spotty new addition into its mix Nov. 4, and the zoo needs your help picking the baby boy’s name.
First-time mom Chandy gave birth to a 5-foot-4-inch, 134 pound male giraffe calf on Nov. 4, according to a Facebook post from the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
The giraffe calf is currently “bonding with mom behind the scenes” and being introduced to the zoo’s other giraffes, the post said, including his dad, Aidan.
Zookeepers have brainstormed six names for their new leggy friend, and they’ve called on the public to help pick a winner: Anderson, Beni, Chester, Mosi, Patch and Slim.
Votes for the calf’s name can be cast on the zoo’s website. The deadline to vote is Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 11:59 p.m. Only one vote may be cast per person.
The calf, a Masai giraffe, is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, according to the Facebook post.
According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Masai giraffe used to be the most populous giraffe species in the world. Even though less than 44,000 of the giraffes remain in their natural habitats throughout Kenya and Tanzania, the species is experiencing positive regrowth trends.
The Kansas City Zoo participates in a species survival program by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums that helps “ensure a genetically diverse and stable giraffe population in accredited facilities,” according to the post.
Additionally, the zoo works on “co-existence projects” in Kenya’s Athi-Kapiti region, according to the post.
The entire giraffe herd at the zoo is currently unavailable for viewing by the public as the herd’s enclosure undergoes construction. The new habitat will open by summer 2026, according to the post.
