Tennessee Zoo Celebrates Arrival of Exceptionally Rare Giraffe without Spots

A Tennessee zoo recently received a special addition – a rare giraffe without any spots. The spotless giraffe was born on July 31 at Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, and experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe in existence. The zoo has even launched a naming contest for the baby giraffe, which can now be seen by visitors. According to the zoo’s director, the last recorded spotless giraffe was born in Tokyo in 1972. Reticulated giraffes, known for their brown and orange spots, are an endangered species native to Africa. The zoo hopes that the attention this unique giraffe is receiving will raise awareness about the challenges faced by the species in the wild. The naming contest has narrowed down the options to four choices: Kipekee, Firyali, Shakiri, and Jamella. In 2020, a family of three white giraffes with leucism, which causes loss of pigmentation, was spotted in Kenya. Unfortunately, two of them were killed by poachers, but the remaining one was fitted with a GPS monitor for protection. CBS News has reached out to experts for more information about the spotless giraffe.



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