New Giraffe at The Living Desert Gets Name

Officials at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens announced Monday that a 7-week-old baby giraffe finally has a name: “Ayo.”

The name, which means “happiness” or “joy” in the Nigerian language of Yoruba, was selected by the zoo’s director of trains, Joe Schneider, who won an internal contest that generated more than 50 entries from park staff and volunteers.

“Ayo is a perfect name for this baby giraffe,” said Allen Monroe, the zoo’s president and CEO. “He exudes happiness and brings smiles to everyone who sees him.”

Ayo was born July 3 to mother “Tuli,” after a 15-month gestation.

Fewer than 80,000 giraffes exist in the wild, zoo officials said.

Newborn giraffes typically nurse from their mothers for nine to 12 months, and begin eating foliage in about four months.

The local zoo is home to four male and two female giraffes, which are all on exhibit during normal park hours.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the Living Desert