Rare spotless giraffe born Tennessee zoo

A rare giraffe without spots was born at Brights Zoo in Tennessee, and experts believe she is the only one of her kind in the world. The zoo is asking the public to help name the newborn by voting on one of four names on their Facebook page.

A remarkable event took place at Brights Zoo in northeastern Tennessee last month. A female reticulated giraffe was born, but unlike her mother and other giraffes, she was born without any spots. This is an extremely rare occurrence.

Giraffes are known to be the tallest mammals in the world, standing at an impressive height of 14 to 15 feet. When giraffe mothers give birth, their calves are already 6 feet tall. Typically, these calves are born with brown spots covering their bodies, except on very rare occasions. However, the newborn giraffe at Brights Zoo was born without any spots, making her truly unique.

According to WJHL 11 News, Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tenn. shared the news of the birth of this spotless giraffe on July 31. The zoo stated that giraffe experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe in existence anywhere on the planet. This has sparked curiosity among zoo professionals across the country, with the zoo's staff reaching out to them to determine just how rare this giraffe is. The only recorded instance of a reticulated giraffe being born without spots was in Japan during the 1970s.

The Brights Zoo Facebook page features pictures of the calf standing next to her mother, showcasing the stark contrast between their appearances. The zoo is inviting the public to participate in naming the newborn giraffe. Four names are available for voting on the zoo's Facebook page, each with a Swahili origin and meaningful significance. The names are Kipekee, meaning unique; Firali, which means unusual or extraordinary; Shakiri, meaning she is most beautiful; and Jamella, which means one of great beauty. The zoo's director, David Bright, mentioned that the zoo considered thousands of names and their meanings before narrowing it down to these four options. The family is particularly attached to these names, so they hope the newborn will be named one of them. The final decision will be announced on Sept. 4.

It is important to note that reticulated giraffes are facing a critical situation in the wild. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation estimates that there are only around 16,000 of these giraffes left in their natural habitat. This represents a staggering decline of over 50% from approximately 36,000 giraffes 35 years ago. In total, there are about 117,000 giraffes across four species and nine subspecies. Many of these giraffes are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

The birth of this spotless giraffe at Brights Zoo is a truly extraordinary event. It serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures and their habitats.