‘World’s Rarest Giraffe’ is born in Tennessee, zoo says. See what makes her special
UPDATE: The spotless giraffe born at Brights Zoo in Tennessee was named Kipekee. The announcement came on Tuesday, Sept. 5, on the “Today” show. The baby giraffe is now available for viewing at the zoo, officials said.
The original story continues below.
A giraffe was born without spots — making her the “World’s Rarest Giraffe,” a Tennessee zoo said.
Adorable photos from Brights Zoo show the baby giraffe has a coat that is a solid brown color, instead having the brown spots that make the tall animals iconic.
“Giraffe experts believe she is the only solid colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet,” the zoo told McClatchy News in an Aug. 21 email.
Reticulated giraffes — one of several species of the animals — are endangered. The animals live in the wild in eastern Africa and typically have a coat of “large polygon-shaped brown spots on a creamy white background, a pattern that is unique to each individual,” according to the Denver Zoo.
In Tennessee, Brights Zoo said it welcomed its newborn giraffe in late July. While the wildlife park didn’t immediately tell McClatchy News why it believes the baby was born with an unusual coat, visitors are now able to see her.
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“She already stands 6ft tall, and is thriving under the care of her attentive mother and the zoo’s expert staff,” officials wrote.
The zoo said it plans to launch a Facebook contest Aug. 22 to name the spotless giraffe.
Brights Zoo is in Limestone, roughly 85 miles northeast of Knoxville.
This story was originally published August 21, 2023 at 11:02 AM with the headline "‘World’s Rarest Giraffe’ is born in Tennessee, zoo says. See what makes her special."
