The new giraffe calf at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.

BB and her new calf.

BB the giraffe at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance gave birth to a healthy calf on Friday, March 7, after a 444-day pregnancy.

The calf was the first born to BB and her mate, Jasiri. The pair arrived in Denver in 2022 from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs (BB) and Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas (Jasiri) as part of a breeding program.

In a statement, the Denver Zoo says the birth “provides a critical boost for the endangered species.”

The birth was exciting news for the zoo and residents, and the community is now being asked to help name the newborn through a contest.

The three name choices offered by the zoom are Kujali, meaning “to care” in Swahili; Dagg, in honor of the late giraffe researcher Dr. Anne Innis Dagg; and Thorn, a favorite woody food of giraffes. Vote here.

There’s also a live camera available to watch BB and her baby before they make their public debut. Watch here.