There's a new resident at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. A female giraffe calf was born on April 16. This is the third calf to mother Dottie and father Jawara.
The calf weighed 152 pounds and was measured around six feet tall 24 hours after birth. Dottie and the calf are viewable to Zoo guests in the Syd and Betty Cate Giraffe Herd Rooms in a separate area before they will be introduced to the rest of the herd in the upcoming weeks.
There are currently eleven giraffes at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, one male and ten females, including the calf. Giraffe calves grow at a rapid rate during their first year of life, gaining about three and a half to four pounds per day.
The public is invited to help name the calf by submitting name suggestions through a Facebook contest that will begin on Friday, April 26. Submissions will be accepted through May 10. The winning name will be announced on Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium’s Facebook page on May 17.
The winner will also receive a prize package with items from the Zoo’s Gift Shop.