Baby giraffe at Living Desert named by longtime zoo supporters
Longtime supporters of The Living Desert won the auction to name the baby giraffe that was born at the zoo on January 20.
Zoo officials said Candi and Jon Holzgrafe decided to name the baby girafee, ‘Twiga’. The couple won the contest during a live auction at the Zoobilee Gala fundraiser, which took place on March 20.
Most popular baby names of 2015
“We selected the name Twiga because it means giraffe in Swahili,” said Candi Holzgrafe. “We have been visiting The Living Desert since it opened, and each season there would be something new to visit at the park. Now my family has the chance to support the next vision for future generations, and we are so proud to be involved with such an important organization.”
According to the zoo’s release, guests at the Zoobilee gala were treated to a safari-themed evening at The Living Desert, complete with a cocktail reception featuring unique experiences such as animal encounters with raptors, reptiles, and mammals, an African drum performance and a silent auction, followed by dinner, a live auction and special raise-the-paddle effort.
The event raised more than $800,000, making it the most successful gala in The Living Desert’s history.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of all of our donors and supporters,” said Jan Hawkins, Director of Development at The Living Desert. “Not only did our baby giraffe receive a name that evening, but we raised a significant amount of money that will help us continue to achieve our mission.”
January 25, Living Desert gives opportunity to name baby giraffe
Officials with The Living Desert have announced an opportunity to name the zoo’s newest member; a male baby giraffe born on January 20.
Guests and donors at the 23rd Annual Zoobilee! Gala, slated for March 20, 2016, will have the chance to bid on naming the baby giraffe during the live auction portion of the event.
According to the news release, the calf, weighing in at 130 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall at birth, is now on exhibit with his mother and the rest of the herd at The Living Desert. He is the sixth baby for mom, Dadisi, and seventh calf for the father, Hesabu. The Living Desert is currently home to a herd of seven giraffes, five males and two females, all of which are on exhibit in the African section of the Park.
In the last 15 years, the population of giraffes in the wild has fallen dramatically by 60%, officials said.
“This is an exciting opportunity for The Living Desert’s supporters to name this beautiful giraffe calf,” said President/CEO Allen Monroe. “We’re thrilled to be able to provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to our gala guests.”
Living Desert officials said Zoobilee attendees will be treated to a safari-themed evening, complete with unique experiences such as animal encounters and the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items. The funds raised by the annual gala directly supports The Living Desert’s endangered species conservation projects, such as the Mexican wolf recovery team and the pronghorn antelope field conservation work in the Baja Peninsula, as well as education programming for more than 30,000 students a year.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $300 per person. Tickets can be purchased at livingdesert.org or by calling (760) 346-5694 ext. 2166.
January 25th
The Living Desert is welcoming its newest addition: a baby male giraffe.
Only a few weeks into the new year, The Living Desert’s giraffe, Dadisi, gave birth to a male calf on January 20, 2016, said Allen Monroe, President & CEO of The Living Desert. The yet-to-be-named calf, weighing in at 130 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, is anticipated to be on exhibit January 29, 2016.
“While we are always excited to announce the birth of new babies here at The Living Desert, it is especially wonderful to welcome our first baby of 2016, a beautiful giraffe calf,” said Monroe. “Both mother and baby are doing well.”
Zoo officials said this is the sixth baby for mom, Dadisi, and seventh calf for the father, Hesabu. Dadisi came to The Living Desert in November 2002 from the Oakland Zoo, and all of her calves have been born at The Living Desert. Hesabu, who came from the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 2002, also is the father of Ayo, who was born in July 2015 to mother Tuli.
“Both Dadisi and Hesabu were sent to our zoo for breeding, based on Species Survival Plan recommendations,” said Monroe. “The successful breeding and birth of their babies has helped build the population of this endangered species, which is an important and fulfilling part of our mission.”
According to the release, The Living Desert is currently home to a herd of seven giraffes, five males and two females, all of which are on exhibit in the African section of the Park. In the last 15 years, the population of giraffes in the wild has fallen dramatically by 60% to less than 80,000 animals.
Dadisi’s pregnancy was about 15 months, the typical gestational period for a giraffe. The baby will now nurse for nine to 12 months, and begin eating foliage at about four months. The giraffe will double his size in the first year of his life. The baby giraffe has its own spot-like markings and no two giraffe’s have the same pattern, similar to humans having unique fingerprints, officials said.
You can participate in giraffe feedings from 11 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person or $4 for members. The Living Desert is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
