Indian Wells, CA – The Living Desert proudly announced the birth of a female giraffe calf on October 28, 2011. The healthy girl weighs 111.1 lbs and stands tall at 5 ft, 9 inches. A contest to name her invites you to send in the award-winning name and win a free membership to the special zoo in Palm Desert.

Giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals, thanks to their long necks and towering legs, which, at about 6 feet, are taller than many humans. Fully grown, giraffes grow to be 14 to 16 feet-tall and can run up to 35 miles per hour. These endearing herbivores roam the African savanna in small groups of six or more in constant search of food, like treetop acacia buds. Their tongues are typically black in color and about 21 inches long, allowing them to pluck hard-to-reach branches.