LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Zoo's baby giraffe was named "Nyasi" after a public vote earlier this month.

Over the course of two weeks, nearly 4,000 votes were cast from people throughout Kentucky as well as 38 other states. Nyasi was born to Kianga after a gestation period of 15-17 months. He weighed 160 pounds and stood at 6 feet, 2 inches tall at the time of birth.

"We are delighted to celebrate this important birth," Dan Maloney, director of the Louisville Zoo, said in a news release after his birth. "Both Kianga and the calf are doing well, and the Zoo staff is closely monitoring them to ensure their continued health and well-being."

Nyasi means "grass" in Swahili to reflect the natural habitat of Masai Giraffes in east Africa. The giraffe family can be seen daily in the giraffe yard at the zoo.

"Masai giraffes, native to East Africa, are the largest subspecies of giraffe," the zoo says on its website. "The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species categorizes giraffes as a whole as vulnerable. Maai giraffe numbers have declined more than 50% in last 30 years. Their largest threats are habitat loss and poaching."

The zoo said Nyasi can be seen daily in the giraffe yard. And for more information and to watch a live video feed of the baby giraffe, click here.

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