Name this adorable giraffe at the Joburg Zoo and win

The youngster, who does not have a name yet, has joined the herd of three females, and according to animal keeper Hilton Nemutamvuni, the new giraffe arrived last month.

“He is only two-and-a-half-years old,” said Nemutamvuni.

The young male was brought in to replace the previous male giraffe who died two years ago.

He is still quite small in comparison to the females, however, Nemutamvuni noted that adult male giraffes can grow up to 5.2m tall, while adult female giraffes measure around 4.5m.

“The intention is breeding,” said Nemutamvuni, who explained that in the herd animal enclosures there was usually one breeding male.

The new giraffe was sourced from a private game reserve and carries a different set of genes, ensuring any future offspring will be healthy.

The young male seems to be adjusting to his new life in captivity, but unlike the other giraffes, he is reluctant to approach the edge of the enclosure.

Nemutamvuni confirmed the youngster was still cautious around human beings. “He likes to eat the boskos [game pellets] – he didn’t get that type of food in the wild,” he said.

For the moment, the young male has visibly swollen knees which occurred during the handover and transportation from the previous owner. However, this is a mild condition and is expected to subside over time.

In an exclusive competition with the Rosebank Killarney Gazette and the Johannesburg Zoo, readers are encouraged to suggest a name for the newbie.

The winner will receive tickets for four to the zoo, along with a picnic basket.

Enter by sending your suggested name to the Caxton competition e-mail address, as well as your name and contact details.

Competition ends 24 April.

Details: competition@caxton.co.za

What name would you suggest for this new male giraffe? Enter by contacting the Caxton competition e-mail.