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Maryland Zoo's newest giraffe prepares to make her debut to the public

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CBS News Baltimore Live

BALTIMORE -- The Maryland Zoo's newest giraffe, Kipepeo (or Kipi) will make her debut to the public on Friday, Jan. 17 after joining the herd in late November. 

The 3-year-old female reticulated giraffe was transported from another zoo and stands at 12 feet. She's the shortest of the zoo's other giraffes. Female giraffe Kesi stands at 14 feet and male giraffe Caesar stands at nearly 16 feet, according to officials. 

A 3-year-old female reticulated giraffe joined the herd at The Maryland Zoo in November 2024.
A 3-year-old female reticulated giraffe joined the herd at The Maryland Zoo in November 2024. The Maryland Zoo

Kipi spent the last few months in a standard quarantine as she adjusted to her new home. Her name, Kipepeo, is Swahili for butterfly, and was chosen in a contest. 

Zoo officials said visitors can see Kipi starting Jan. 17 inside the Giraffe House from noon to 2 p.m. between Monday and Friday.

Giraffes at the Maryland Zoo

The Maryland Zoo mourned the loss of a 6-year-old giraffe named Willow in March 2023 after she experienced a sharp decline in her appetite and unexpectedly died a few days later. 

Willow was born at the zoo in 2017. At the time she was the first giraffe calf to be born at the zoo in over 20 years. She was born to female, Juma, and male Caesar, who still lives in the Giraffe House at the zoo. 

Latest at the Maryland Zoo 

The Maryland Zoo welcomed several new animals in 2024, including adorable opossums Moose and Salmon, a baby chimpanzee named Ivy and a northern ground hornbill chick named Rwenzori. 

The zoo also said goodbye to Mr. Greedy, a beloved African Penguin who helped to rebuild the species' population in zoos across North America. 

Mr. Greedy at the Maryland Zoo
Mr. Greedy is in the center of this photo with a purple, brown, and black ID band. The Maryland Zoo

Mr. Greedy was the oldest penguin at the zoo at 33 years old, surpassing the average penguin lifespan of 18 years. He lived to see five generations of his offspring. 

He was survived by Mrs. Greedy, a female penguin that he mated with when they arrived at the zoo in 1992.

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