The Calgary Zoo’s baby giraffe has a name.
The zoo announced Wednesday the male newcomer will be known as Jengo.
The name for the baby, which was born on Feb. 16 to parents Carrie and Tenga, was one of 3,100 entries in a zoo contest.
Nine people submitted the name Jengo. Zoo officials looked at the effort put into the contest as they chose one family as the winner.
"After hearing about the naming contest for the new male giraffe we knew that the name had to be BIG for the Big Baby Boy! We did some research, both on the new male giraffe and on appropriate names for him, the best name that we could come up with together was "JENGO". There are a number of reasons we chose this name, first Jengo is a simple but yet unique name that will be easy for the Zoo staff and his keepers to use as well as for the many visitors the Zoo hosts each day, especially children. The name Jengo is from the African culture which is important to the Zoo in keeping with the animals’ origins. According to our research the name Jengo has two meanings which are both very fitting. The first meaning is strength and building…how appropriate as he was born the Zoo’s tallest and biggest and with his personality traits; intelligent, curious and independent, these are all characteristics of an animal with strength. As well, with his arrival has brought great joy to the Zoo staff and its members and visitors…his arrival has helped ‘build’ the Calgary Zoo and bring a special and new excitement to The African Savannah building. (Our family favourite!) Secondly, the meaning of the name Jengo can also mean one with reddish complexion, as we have not seen the new giraffe in person, but according to the photos we have seen of him, he definitely has a reddish colour to his hair. Lastly, and on a more personal note as Jengo, meaning "building" is like the game Jenga where you have to build a tower with the pieces, this happens to be our favourite game as a family This name would hold great meaning to our family and to the giraffe as he was born at 6’6", he is sure to ‘build’ into a Strong Tower.”
Jengo, the biggest baby giraffe the zoo has had, is doing well. Visitors can now see Jengo at the zoo.
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