The Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas, has launched a naming contest for a newborn Masai giraffe, according to an announcement made on June 26, 2023. The giraffe calf was born on June 23, weighing 156 pounds and measuring 6 feet 7 inches. Masai giraffes, the tallest land animals, are an endangered species and also the national animal of Tanzania.
In this contest, participants can contribute $5 per vote to choose between one of four proposed Swahili names for the giraffe: Adelaide, which means “kind/noble”; Kalani, meaning “royal/majesty”; Kira, translating to “throne”; and Zuri, which means “beautiful”. The voting period is scheduled to run until July 9, allowing interested individuals to participate and select their favorite name.