Zoo Announces Giraffe Calf's Name
For release at 1 p.m., July 16, 2011

Contact:
Melinda Arnold, Public Relations Director
417-833-1570 (office)
marnold[at]dickersonparkzoo.org

Springfield, Mo. - A male giraffe born Tuesday, July 12, at Dickerson Park Zoo received his name today. Zoo staff announced during the Zoobilee event that the public selected "Stretch, Jr." as the calf's name.

The public was invited to vote through the zoo's Facebook profile for their favorite from among three names: Stretch, Jr., Watoto and Cooper. Stretch, Jr., was the sentimental favorite and received 335 votes, and his nickname will be "S.J." Cooper was a close second with 316. Watoto received 156 votes.

During his first examination earlier this week, Stretch, Jr., weighed 165 pounds and stood 6 feet 4 inches tall. He can be seen by zoo guests with his mother Kamili, half-sister Billie, and Gidget, from the elevated feeding/viewing platform. Three other giraffes are in an adjacent exhibit yard.

Dickerson Park Zoo is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through the end of September, including summer holidays. For more information, visit the zoo online at www.dickersonparkzoo.org, or call the zoo's information hotline, 417-864-1800.

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Dickerson Park Zoo is a division of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.