On February 13th, Safari West welcomed a brand new baby giraffe born there on the Sonoma Serengeti. This 6-foot newborn tips the scales at 130 pounds and is ready to meet his fans! There’s just one problem. He needs a name!

What should they name the new baby giraffe?

Valentino

Dobby

Patches

Vino

Ollie

Polls close March 1, 2021, at midnight PST.

Show your support for this vulnerable species and spread some love for him today by helping them name that baby! https://www.safariwest.com/2021/02/help-us-name-that-baby/

Always one of the most famous and recognizable of Africa’s mammals, the lovely giraffe has recently become a conservation issue as well. Although most people still don’t know it, giraffes have sadly found themselves on the Endangered Species List! More than ever before, we need to focus attention on the study and conservation of this unique species. The giraffes at Safari West have served as ambassadors for their species for decades and continue to inspire and educate tens of thousands of human visitors every year. Safari West looks forward to this newest arrival continuing the tradition with the next generation of conservationists.

Photographs and video by Will Bucquoy.

On April 14, Jamala, a 16 year-old Masai Giraffe gave birth to a calf at Safari West in California. The  gangly, six foot (1.8 m) male calf weighs about 120 pounds (54 kg) and has been named Phoenix. He’s gentle, playful and full of spirit! He was born on the eve of the total lunar eclipse, making the birth all the more unique and exciting for the zoo.  

This is the third calf for father, 11-year-old Tufani, and Jamala’s fourth baby. The Masai Giraffe, also known as the Maasai Giraffe or Kilimanjaro Giraffe, is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land mammal. They are typically the darkest of the subspecies.

Photo credit: Safari West

A leg first emerged at approximately 9am. His head was visible at 9:30am. Typical of giraffes, his life started with a six foot plunge. He was born at 10am and stood at 10:30am. The calf nursed soon after standing. MaThe baby will soon be out with the other giraffes, playing together and chasing the cranes or just having fun like giraffes do. This makes the twenty-seventh baby giraffe born at Safari West and the third Masai Giraffe baby.

There are only one hundred Masai Giraffes in North America in just 20 different locations, as recorded by According to the International Species Information system. According to the Giraffe Conservation Organization, Masai Giraffes may be the most populous of the sub-species with an estimated fewer than 40,000 remaining in the wild, though recent reports of significant poaching would suggest it likely to be significantly less. 

See and read more after the fold. 

Photo credit: Safari West

It's a 6-day-old Rainbow Lorikeet and its hatching was announced yesterday by The Safari West Zoo in Santa Rosa, California. Lorikeets are native to Australasia and the brightly colored birds are found in Australia, eastern Indonesia (Maluku and Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Photo credits: Safari West

Santa Rosa CA's Safari West shared a new picture of their Fennec Fox kits Bella and Bill.

The pair (as well as their radar-like ears!) are growing up fast. Join us on Facebook to caption this photo in the comments section.

Safari West in Santa Rosa, California is now home two two six-week-old Fennec Fox kits. Bella, is pictured above and last with Bev Baily, Animal Collections Manager for Safari West. Bill, Bella's brother, is seen having his breakfast in the second picture. Nocturnal hunters, fennec foxes detect tasty insects and small rodents with their ridiculously oversized ears.

Photo credits: Safari West