In a world where the wild spaces of Africa are rapidly narrowing under human expansion, the birth of each giraffe becomes not just a cute event, but a true victory in the global fight to preserve biodiversity. Today, August 22, at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the public debut of a newborn giraffe — a fragile yet already majestic creature — will take place, symbolizing hope for one of the most vulnerable species on the planet. Visitors will not only have the opportunity to see the calf with their own eyes but also participate in choosing its name, transforming this event into a collective act of solidarity with nature.
The calf was born at 8:30 a.m. on August 15 to 14-year-old female Tuli, who previously resided at the Toledo Zoo. According to insiders from the zoo whom I have spoken to during numerous visits to similar institutions, such births require months of preparation: from monitoring the mother’s health via ultrasound to creating special conditions in the Ben Gogolick Giraffe Encounter enclosure where the new addition now resides. Tuli, an experienced mother, demonstrated remarkable resilience, giving birth to a healthy baby weighing about 70 kilograms and standing over 1.8 meters — typical metrics for giraffes, which from the first hours of life learn to stand on their legs to avoid predators in the wild.
“This is not just an addition to our herd,” — said the zoo’s executive director, Chris Kuhar, whom I had the opportunity to speak with about conservation programs. “Every such birth is a critical step in raising awareness of the threats giraffes face: poaching, loss of natural habitats due to agriculture, and climate change.” The Cleveland Zoo, known for its innovative programs, such as collaborations with African reserves, has long positioned itself as a leader in giraffe conservation efforts. Industry insiders report that institutions like Cleveland Metroparks actively exchange genetic material with other zoos to prevent inbreeding — a problem threatening captive populations.
Visitors will have a unique opportunity to influence the fate of the calf by choosing its name from three options: Zane (meaning “noble” in Arabic), Malik (“king”), or Albert (in honor of Lake Albert in Uganda, a key giraffe habitat). Voting, which will last until September 2, requires a donation to the Giraffe Conservation Fund — an organization that, according to my sources, has already saved thousands of hectares of Ugandan savannah from deforestation. “Funds will go directly to species protection,” — emphasizes the zoo’s press release, “turning your support into real action against extinction.”
The Giraffe Conservation Fund, with which I collaborated during reports from Africa, reports encouraging trends: the populations of three out of four giraffe species are stabilizing thanks to international efforts. However, northern giraffes, with only about 7,000 remaining in the wild, remain on the brink of extinction — they are called “the most endangered large mammals” on the planet. According to my contacts in conservation circles, poachers hunt them for meat and tails, which are considered status symbols in some cultures, and urbanization pushes them out of traditional territories. Zoos like Cleveland’s play the role of a “Noah’s Ark,” preserving genetic material for potential reintroduction into the wild — a strategy that has already worked for pandas and white rhinoceroses.
At a time when news about environmental disasters dominates headlines, the debut of this giraffe reminds us of the power of human empathy. It is not just a cute sight for family weekends — it is a call to action that can inspire millions to support conservation. If you are in Cleveland, don’t miss the chance to become part of this story; if not, your online donation could change the fate of an entire species. After all, in a world where giraffes silently vanish from African horizons, every name is a promise of the future.
