Bao Bao may be leaving Washington to go to China, but a new baby animal was recently born in Baltimore and needs a name.
A reticulated giraffe calf was born on Feb. 6 at the Maryland Zoo. The baby is already 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs more than 125 pounds.
Juma, a first-time mother, and the calf are bonding behind the scenes. Both appear healthy.
The Giraffe House animal care team has been busy providing necessities to the herd and the new mom and baby. But the calf needs a name, so the team has come up with some selections for the public to vote and the meanings behind the names.
- Imara – which means strong, resolute in Swahili
- Safara – a name of African origin, which means fire
- Willow – willow trees are slender and graceful, like the newborn calf
- Ruby – because she’s a rare and precious gem
- Opal – a name from Sanskrit, literally meaning “jewel”
- Dottie – because she has a dark dot positioned just above each hoof
Voting on the new name will continue until 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. The winning name will be announced later in the week.
