Two-week-old giraffe at Omaha zoo given inspirational name after battling illness

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A name has been established for the two-week-old giraffe at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Peg Pease, who volunteers at the zoo’s Syd and Betty Cate Giraffe Herd Rooms and helps educate guests about the animals, began calling the giraffe Hope.

Once staff caught wind of the nickname, they made it official. The team thought the name was fitting because the giraffe battled a gastrointestinal infection that she has slowly been overcoming.

“All of us have been ‘hoping’ this little girl survives, and our Keepers and Veterinary Care staff are doing great work to make that happen,” Pease said. “As we provide ‘hope’ for this calf, she is also providing ‘hope’ for us and all of her wild counterparts.”

Hope is still receiving treatment from the veterinary teams at the zoo while she recovers from her illness with around-the-clock care.