Giraffe has new name, courtesy first grader

One of the new giraffes at Lincoln Children’s Zoo now has a name, thanks to an Lincoln Public School student.

The zoo picked the name Phoebe.  It was chosen out of more than 2,000 names submitted by LPS first graders.

Iggy Malik of Meadow Lane Elementary School suggested the winning name.

The zoo said they wanted a student to name her because they have a strong partnership with LPS

“Phoebe, the new name, is the very first giraffe to ever call Lincoln home,” said President and CEO John Chapo.  “And it’s historic for the community, it’s historic for the zoo.  So let’s have a historic moment and allow a Lincoln Public School first grader to name that animal.”

The giraffe Phoebe happens to share the same name as the first woman to serve on the Lincoln Board of Education Phoebe Elliott.

Iggy earned a free stuffed giraffe, which he also named Phoebe.

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