Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo Has Welcomed a New Young Giraffe

Happy World Giraffe Day!

According to a new article from KCRG, Blank Park Zoo is celebrating World Giraffe Day in the most fitting way possible... with a new giraffe! The Des Moines zoo has welcomed Poppy to their giraffe herd.

Poppy is a one-year-old giraffe that has come to Iowa from the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee County Zoo said their goodbyes to her on social media back in late May, describing her as "very independent" and "at a good age to be "integrated into another herd."

The article from KCRG reports that Poppy is currently 10-feet-tall and weighs around 800 pounds, but PBS says that female giraffes can grow up to 14-feet-tall and weigh up to 1,500 pounds!

Poppy joins Blank Park Zoo's other giraffes Jakobi, Bakari, Skye, and Zola. Actually, KCCI reports that Poppy is Zola's sister! Bakari was the latest addition to the herd before Poppy, born to Zola and Jakobi back on September 7th of 2022. That means he's Poppy's nephew! Bakari could grow up to 18-feet-tall and weigh up to 3,000 pounds.

Blank Park Zoo will be celebrating World Giraffe Day today (June 21st) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Zoo guests can learn all about giraffes and the efforts to save them from extinction. You can read more about the animal on their website HERE.

Back in May, Blank Park Zoo announced the addition of two new endangered monkeys named Kida and Eddie, as well as eight new alpacas for their "Alpaca Acres" experience! You can read more about Kida & Eddie HERE, and more about the alpacas HERE.