A zoo claims one of their giraffes has given birth to an incredibly rare spotless giraffe calf.
Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, US, has yet to name the ultra-rare offspring, which was born on July 31.
The adorable little anomaly is believed to be the only known living spotless giraffe according to experts.
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“Giraffe experts believe she is the only solid-coloured reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet,” Bright’s Zoo stated in a release.
A display of affection between the baby and its mother was captured on camera and has tugged at the internet's heartstrings.
The unnamed calf currently stands at around six feet tall and is thriving under its mother's care according to staff at the Zoo.
They are now hosting a contest to name the newborn – and they’re down to four choices.
Kipekee, which means unique; Firyali, which means unusual or extraordinary; Shakiri, which means "she is most beautiful", and Jamella, which means "one of great beauty".
Name suggestions can be left on the zoo’s Facebook page.
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Reticulated giraffes are a species of giraffes with brown and orange spots native to Africa but in 2018 were listed as endangered, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
David Bright, the zoo’s director told CBS News the first spotless giraffe dates back to 1972 when it was born in the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo – they named it Toshiko.
In a press release Tony Bright, founder of Brights Zoo, added: “The international coverage of our patternless baby giraffe has created a much-needed spotlight on giraffe conservation.
"Wild populations are silently slipping into extinction, with 40 per cent of the wild giraffe population lost in just the last three decades."
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Their aim is to generate as much attention as possible to spread awareness over the species' endangerment.
The news comes after the loss of two rare all-white giraffes in 2020 at the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy in Ijara, Garissa County, as reported by the Independent.
The all-white giraffes had leucism, which causes the loss of pigmentation, creating white skin. They were travelling in a group of three and were all a family.
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The two killed by poachers were a calf and a female, leaving the male left, who has since been fitted with a GPS tracker.
"We are thankful for the tremendous help from KWS, Save Giraffes Now and the Northern Rangelands Trust in furthering community efforts to safeguard wildlife species,” said Ahmed Noor, the conservancy’s manager in a press release.
“The giraffe’s grazing range has been blessed with good rains in the recent past and the abundant vegetation bodes well for the future of the white male.”
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