Introducing Hamisi!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our baby giraffe naming contest!  More than 2,200 entries were received throughout August. Of these, the zookeepers who care for the giraffes at Franklin Park Zoo selected five name finalists. We are pleased to announce that the winning name is Hamisi – Swahili for “born on a Thursday.”

Hamisi was born to mother Jana and sire Beau, both of whom are ranked very highly in terms of their importance to maintaining the genetic diversity of the North American captive Masai giraffe population. Diagnosed with the incurable Giraffe Wasting Syndrome (GWS) in October 2003, Beau was brought back from the brink of death, and is now by far the longest living giraffe in the world having been diagnosed with this condition. The new baby is the third calf born to Beau and Jana.

At birth, the calf weighed 164 pounds and stood 6’ 4” tall. The young male giraffe, described as calm, independent and very smart, now weighs 298 pounds and stands 7’ 10” tall. Hamisi can be seen on exhibit with Beau, Jana, his sister Sox, and the Grevy’s zebras on the Giraffe Savannah.

Beau and Jana were bred as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Giraffe Population Management Plan (PMP). PMPs provide nationally-coordinated population management recommendations for zoo and aquarium species. Proper population management can ensure the long-term survival of the captive population and the health of individual animals.