Toronto Zoo’s newest addition finally has a name! When a baby Masai giraffe joined the zoo family on Feb. 22, the little one was affectionately nicknamed “Baby Long Neck” as the community was invited to submit their votes for an official name. The results are finally in: after more than 23,000 votes were cast, Baby Long Neck is officially Imara!
The name received over 8,000 votes, beating out the other four names included in the vote. All five names were chosen in collaboration with the Kenyan Honorary Consulate in Toronto to reflect the endangered Masai giraffe species. Due to illegal hunting and habitat loss, there are fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes still surviving in the wild. The species has experienced a more than 50 per cent decline in the past 30 years.
The name Imara is Swahili for strong, firm and resilient. And the giraffe calf has certainly been growing fast: born at a shocking 6 feet, 4 inches, she’s already shot up to 7 feet!
“She stands for a symbol of strength, optimism and resilience not only for her endangered species but in a world eager to be reminded that hope still thrives,” Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo, said in a statement.
Imara made her public debut at the zoo on March 13, and apparently there were lineups to see her stretched through the Toronto Zoo’s Africa Savanna over March Break. Visitors have been asked to stay calm and quiet in the giraffe house to respect her development and help her get used to crowds.
You can visit Imara between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day. The baby giraffe is also currently up for adoption through the zoo — adopting an animal helps the zoo care for animals, offer educational experiences and protect wildlife through vital conservation programs.
