Reid Park Zoo’s New Baby Giraffe Has a Name!

I’ve been obsessed with Reid Park Zoo’s baby giraffe. He was born on February 23, 2026, and he’s been stealing hearts ever since.

His mom, Penelope (often called “Penny”), is one of the zoo’s adult female reticulated giraffes. Penelope has been part of the zoo’s Species Survival Plan. His dad is a male giraffe named Jasiri.

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READ MORE: Arizona, Reid Park's Live Zoo Cams Will Make You Smile!

How He Got His Name: Ndizi

Reid Park Zoo put out a call to the public to vote on a name for this sweet baby. More than 9,000 zoo fans cast their votes in an online poll. The winning moniker was announced in April. He will be known as “Ndizi”, the name that got 41.6% of the vote.

The name, which means “banana” in Swahili, perfectly suits her playful, cute spirit and gentle nature.

Watch Him Grow and Explore

Ndizi is already growing by leaps and bounds. In his first few weeks, he’s gained about a foot and now stands around 7 feet tall! He’s still mostly nursing from mama, but he’s s becoming curious about solid foods, according to the Zoo.

The best time to see him is in the morning, shortly after the zoon opens, when he’s most active. He’s starting to explore the habitat for longer stretches of time and loves watching the peacocks that wander in.

More Animals: Why Ghost Ranch Exotics Is A Must-Visit In Arizona

Where to See Ndizi

This sweet baby is at Reid Park Zoo to meet Ndizi in person! The zoo is proud to connect Tucson’s community with amazing animals like Ndizi and to inspire everyone to care about wildlife. Don’t miss your chance to see this adorable giraffe calf as she grows and thrives!

Learn more about Ndizi at the Reid Park Zoo!

See the announcement about the giraffe's name from the Reid Park Zoo, via YouTube: