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You Can Help Name The Maryland Zoo's Baby Giraffe

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Maryland Zoo needs your help naming their newest big bundle of joy.

Born two weeks ago, the female giraffe calf wants your help.

It's the first time in 20 years a giraffe has been born at the zoo, so it's very important to have the community's input in naming her.

"Very exciting, we really want the community to have their stake in this," says Sydney Larsen, Giraffe House Team Manager.

There are six names to choose from, selected by the Giraffe House animal care team members.

"Finding things specific to her or are heard here in general and then things that are easy to use and sound nice."

They are:

Imara (ee MAH rah) – which means strong, resolute in Swahili
Safara (sah FAR ah) – a name of African origin which means fire
Willow – willow trees are slender and graceful, like the newborn calf
Ruby – because she's a rare and precious gem
Opal – a name from Sanskrit literally meaning "jewel"
Dottie – because she has a dark dot positioned just above each hoof

Now the zoo is turning to the public for the final vote.

Zoo staff tells WJZ the first-time mom Juma has been a very attentive mother, keeping up with her six-foot-tall baby girl born February 6, who is already showing a spunky personality.

"She loves to run around she takes a lot of naps, but she's doing great, she's very energetic, she is starting to reach that curious stage where she is investigating a lot of things," says Larsen.

You have until Thursday at 8 a.m. to make your selection, here: www.marylandzoo.org/giraffename.

The zoo hopes to introduce the calf to the public sometime next week.

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