Current:Home > MySpotless giraffe seen in Namibia, weeks after one born at Tennessee zoo -Prime Money Path
Spotless giraffe seen in Namibia, weeks after one born at Tennessee zoo
View
Date:2025-04-16 07:54:08
A rare spotless giraffe was spotted in the wild mere weeks after one was born at a Tennessee zoo, a conservation organization announced in a press release Monday.
The Angolan giraffe was photographed on a private game reserve in central Namibia, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
In July, a spotless giraffe was born at Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, in what David Bright, the zoo's director, told "Good Morning America" was "definitely a shock."
MORE: American caver hoisted to safety after 12 days in Turkish cave
Following a naming contest, where the zoo asked the public to name the giraffe, the animal was named Kipekee, which means "unique" in Swahili. Bright said Kipekee is "doing well and growing."
"This is our first one without a pattern," said Bright, who has been the director at the private, family-run zoo for the last two decades.
A reticulated giraffe's spotted pattern typically develops in the womb, so giraffes are usually born with their spots clearly visible, according to Bright.
Giraffes are facing a "silent extinction," the Giraffe Conservation Foundation said in a press release, saying there are only 117,000 wild giraffes in Africa.
MORE: Rare giraffe born without spots gets 'unique' name
"That means that there is only one giraffe for every four African [elephants] remaining in the wild. [Giraffes] have already become extinct in at least seven African countries," the conservation organization said. "And, to make matters even worse for these iconic animals, we now know that there are four distinct species of giraffe in Africa."
Before the spotless giraffe in Namibia and at the zoo in Tennessee, the last recorded brown spotless giraffe was at a zoo in Japan in 1972, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
veryGood! (47676)
Related
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes make rare public appearance together at Paris Olympics
- USA breaks world record, wins swimming Olympic gold in women's medley relay
- Washington attorney general and sheriff who helped nab Green River Killer fight for governor’s seat
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- MLB power rankings: Losers of 20 in a row, White Sox push for worst record ever
- Scottie Scheffler won't be viewed as an Olympic hero, but his was a heroic performance
- Jimmer Fredette injury update: 3x3 star to miss 6 months after Olympic-ending injury
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Everything you need to know about the compact Dodge Neon SRT-4
Ranking
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- The Daily Money: A rout for stocks
- Want to train like an Olympic champion? Start with this expert advice.
- Georgia tops preseason USA Today Coaches Poll; Ohio State picked second
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- This preschool in Alaska changed lives for parents and kids alike. Why did it have to close?
- 1 deputy killed, 2 other deputies injured in ambush in Florida, sheriff says
- Everything you need to know about the compact Dodge Neon SRT-4
Recommendation
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
Olympics men's basketball quarterfinals set: USA faces Brazil, France plays Canada
Meghan Markle Shares Why She Spoke Out About Her Suicidal Thoughts
NBC broadcaster Leigh Diffey jumps the gun, incorrectly calls Jamaican sprinter the 100 winner
SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
MLB power rankings: Losers of 20 in a row, White Sox push for worst record ever
83-year-old Michigan woman killed in gyroplane crash
Olympics pin featuring Snoop Dogg is a hot item in Paris