New boots? No, new giraffe!
The Fort Worth Zoo is excited to announce the arrival of giraffe calf, Lucchese! He was born on May 7, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 174 pounds. Lucchese’s name was chosen through a naming contest and with nearly 8,000 votes, Lucchese beat out Hickory, Jabali (Swahili for “strong as a rock”), Mwezi (Swahili for “moon”), and Thor. Thank you to all who voted!
Lucchese is a reticulated giraffe, referring to the rectangular pattern of his coat. He can be found roaming about in the African Savanna. Lucchese brings the giraffe herd to nine. Giraffes are classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a “vulnerable” species, which makes Lucchese’s arrival that much more important. The giraffe has been named a vulnerable species due to the dramatic depletion of the population over the past 30 years, motivated by civil unrest, poaching, diminution of habitat and other causes. Although the giraffe is not extinct, it is important that we conserve the species in order to guarantee its permanence.
Come connect and learn more about him!