Leucistic Giraffe Alive and Well in Tarangire

1/19/2016

Last year we reported on our blog our sighting of a beautiful leucistic giraffe calf in Tarangire National Park. Her body surface cells are not capable of making pigment, but she is not an albino. We were lucky enough to resight her again this January, almost exactly one year later. We are thrilled that she is still alive and well. Below are photos of the leucistic giraffe calf, then and now. A local lodge guide christened her Omo, after a popular brand of detergent here. Alternative names are welcome, or vote for Omo as her moniker.

Omo the White Giraffe of Tarangire, Wild Nature Institute

January 17, 2015

January 16, 2016

92 Comments

Cheryl Becker

1/19/2016 06:49:11 pm

What a beautiful and unique animal.

donna

1/26/2016 03:20:32 pm

She really is a beautiful animal, CALLALILIES ARE USUALLY WHITE, LILY IS A CUTE NAME, BUT A TAD MORE UNUSUAL WOULD BE TO CALL HER CALLIE AFTER THE CALALILY, MYSUGGESTION IS CALLIE

Elena

1/28/2016 12:37:05 am

My suggestion is nieves

elena masetti

1/28/2016 12:37:48 am

My. Suggestione si nieves

Davide

1/28/2016 04:15:15 pm

The perfect name is "white collar"
Bye bye

Rebecca Fox

1/20/2016 04:33:13 am

Beautiful it should be called socks

Mike Filler

1/20/2016 05:26:03 am

If it's a boy it should be called Daz, and for a girl Ariel!

Allison

3/1/2016 12:11:59 pm

I like the name

Heidi

1/20/2016 08:33:41 pm

Awwww, I like the name Tulah or Talulah. Those r fun names, she looks like a fun girl!

Helen Hack

1/20/2016 09:45:34 pm

Why would you want to rename her. If the local guide has already named her it's fine with all of us

Jayant Krishnan

1/22/2016 10:50:35 am

My favorite animal and so special!!! May God protect you!!! Jayant Krishnan

Richard Jones link

1/22/2016 01:05:45 pm

PLEASE...tell me she will not be allowed to be hunted by someone for money.

Carol Coutu

1/23/2016 02:37:28 pm

interesting. Wonder if this would affect her longevity?

Daphne Painter

1/23/2016 06:46:10 pm

Lovely!

Judith Howard

1/24/2016 11:32:31 am

"Welcome" nice name

Brian james

1/26/2016 01:11:23 pm

Name her "Icicle"

1/26/2016 01:44:50 pm

She almost looks like she's covered in frost. That's what I would name her, Frost, or whatever 'Frost' translates to in the native language.

Jess Heisler

1/26/2016 01:57:16 pm

How about talcum

BJ Kowalski

1/26/2016 02:25:19 pm

How 'bout "Popcorn" !

Bowie

1/26/2016 02:52:28 pm

Ziggy Stardust

Johnny

1/29/2016 11:21:56 am

Yes

porsche

1/26/2016 04:06:18 pm

I like Omo, i like a local touch to the name. Gives ownership and responsibility to keep her and the other wild life there safe.

s n

1/28/2016 11:49:55 am

Yes! Yes! to the local touch to the name.

Katy Henke

1/26/2016 04:27:19 pm

Blanche would be a good name if playing off the white color. Or Talula or Jemma.

Lor

1/26/2016 05:39:53 pm

Pearl

D'Juana

1/26/2016 05:50:22 pm

Name her 'Blanca'! She's BEAUTIFUL!

Cheryl Nimmons

1/26/2016 05:52:56 pm

Cotton would be a fitting name.

DayDreamer65

1/26/2016 06:17:54 pm

"Moon flower" ( large, sweet-smelling white flowers that open at dusk and close at midday)

Billie jo

1/26/2016 06:32:37 pm

I would name blanca

Mouse

1/26/2016 06:33:53 pm

Blanche

Robert Freeman

1/26/2016 06:45:51 pm

Omo is perfect. It's local, it's fitting and truly charming too. Why cast votes in English for an already named Tanzanian Giraffe?

Joanne

1/26/2016 08:30:32 pm

Call her stockings

Sherry

1/26/2016 09:05:54 pm

Angel Dust

Ryan

1/26/2016 10:11:16 pm

Ellie :) that was the first name I thought of when I saw her. I think she looks like an Ellie.

Martino Brogio

1/27/2016 03:03:29 am

I personally don't like the name Omo, especially knowing that comes from a popular brand of detergent!

My potential names are: Daisy - Iris - Dahlia - Angel

I really hope they will change it!

Archie

1/27/2016 04:10:01 am

How about Egret for it's long white neck?

Juanjo

1/27/2016 04:22:21 am

A nice name could be "White collar walker"

Soledad Reichert

1/27/2016 05:12:30 am

She looks like someone wash her too much.. .so OMO is actually a perfect name for her. May God bless her.

Felipe QR

1/27/2016 05:40:14 am

Beautiful creature. I would name her ALBA.

Teresa link

1/27/2016 06:31:44 am

"Blanca"

Una

1/27/2016 07:26:25 am

Njaro! I did some research and Swahili word for "whiteness" is Njaro, Also Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa so I would think Njaro (the giraffe) could symbolize height and strength. Just a thought but hope this helps!!

Rebecca

1/27/2016 07:49:50 am

OMO, is a perfect name! Absolutely stunning.

Karol rivas

2/12/2016 05:00:33 pm

Me gusta omo para ese animal especial!

Rebecca

1/27/2016 07:50:32 am

She should be called Misty. She's the same color as the mist that rolls over the plains.

Esther

1/27/2016 08:31:10 am

I love the name CANDELA for her which means light, brightness!

Tanya

1/27/2016 08:55:44 am

It is a leucistic giraffe and with all due respect, does not need a pet name. Giving it a name implies ownership, and wildlife is not to be owned by me, you, the Wild Nature Institute, the local safari lodges, guides, or anyone else. Let's keep wildlife wild.

2/13/2016 09:48:13 am

I have to respectfully disagree; giving her a name doesn't imply ownership at all. Do your parents own you because they named you Tanya?

As for names, I like the name Omo. Keep it as is! Lovely local name with a humorous twist!

Juanjo link

1/27/2016 11:04:28 am

A nice name could be White Collar Walker

Gordo

1/27/2016 11:37:51 am

Ziggy, after the late, great David Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Her white and orange coloration matches perfectly (minus lightening bolt)

https://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/david-bowie-aladdin-sane-ziggy-stardust.jpg?w=700

John Kraus

1/27/2016 12:36:42 pm

Blanche which is taken from the French for white (blanc). A lovely animal.

Lucho

1/27/2016 12:39:07 pm

she should be called " Chuto " meaning " nobility " in Mapudungun

mike barrow

1/27/2016 12:39:54 pm

how about... yangu roho baba...my fathers ghost in Swahili...roho for short

rocio machuca sandoval

1/27/2016 12:47:30 pm

Deberia llamarse my pecas

Pongping

1/27/2016 03:08:11 pm

Omo.. Let her "family" name her ..

Mama Mtoto

1/27/2016 03:25:04 pm

Omo fits her perfectly so does Njaro.I can't wait to see her next time I visit Tanzania. I took my then 5 year old to and he loved the park and how the animals roamed free.He was beylind disappointed when he come back to the USA and went to MN zoo and found the animals caged. Its small enough for a day trip and can use your own car of you prefer. We love Tanzania .

fernanda

1/27/2016 04:52:51 pm

WHITE SNOW

guillermo

1/27/2016 05:58:45 pm

a beautiful giraffe, is incredible as to be able to survive such a beast striking my name is :
first white

Derek Thaczuk

1/27/2016 06:48:46 pm

I would call her Luka.

Meredith Alleruzzo link

1/27/2016 07:32:25 pm

Omo is wonderful and appropriate for her home. If they want to rename her, because she's a real beauty, Grace is beauty in French.

Jenna link

1/27/2016 08:00:11 pm

I think Omo is perfect, and if she's already named, why change it? Especially if it's local to her culture?

Antonio Moreno

1/27/2016 10:16:59 pm

WHITE CLOUD

Fina Cestari

1/27/2016 11:15:42 pm

The name I like for this giraffe is eternal fullness

Kaelyn

1/28/2016 05:07:42 am

I'd say Blizzard. Or Snowdrop. Or even Snowflake.

1/28/2016 06:26:43 am

I work with young adults with disabilities and they had a ball trying to figure out a name for OMO. We came up with about 10 but I'll put 3. Cleopatra or (Cleo), Nila, Diliha

Suzan

1/28/2016 07:28:18 am

Ashley or Uni short for unicorn

Jeani hood

1/28/2016 10:45:11 am

Ruti-diluti

Natalia Noemí

1/28/2016 01:00:49 pm

El nombre "Omo" suena a detergente en mi país, Chile. La jirafa es muy bonita y especial, y sería genial que se llamara Blanquiraffa :)

Alex van den valentyn

1/28/2016 01:21:04 pm

You should name her zuri it means beautiful in swahili

Adam

1/28/2016 02:13:43 pm

Her name should be Luna. Pretty sure that's the best name...

S. Smith

1/28/2016 08:58:43 pm

I think she should be called Albion.

Mr Arnold Class

1/29/2016 08:47:29 am

We did a class survey on names and voted for...MARSHMALLOW!

patty

1/29/2016 05:48:23 pm

bianca

Alejandro Márquez.

1/30/2016 07:43:36 pm

Estaría bien "Vasna", del hindi dignifica pasión y además era el nombre de un buque hospital británico ("HMHS Vasna").

Gloria Andrade P

1/31/2016 08:31:49 am

Black, beautiful jirafa, thanks .

Gloria Andrade P

1/31/2016 08:38:38 am

I love White, beautiful jirafa, thanks .

Andres

1/31/2016 03:24:56 pm

I think it should be call Whitgy, because of the mix between white and giraffe

Nicolás link

2/1/2016 12:04:21 pm

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Katie

2/3/2016 01:39:54 am

Hi. My name is Katie and I absolutely ADORE giraffes. You actually have no idea how much I love and appreciate these strange and well-adapted animals. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love giraffes. I have a giraffe onesies (not made of giraffe because that would just be silly), and cookie cutters and photos and coffee mugs and more. Basically, I'm writing all this here because nothing would make me happier than having a giraffe names after me! So please name it Katie, PLEASE!

Newton orora

2/3/2016 09:55:28 pm

Albino giraffe look like a new species in the face of the universe.....it's awesome despite of it's genetic deformity!

Michele

2/5/2016 04:48:02 am

I like the name Omo!

Lala

2/13/2016 10:18:40 am

Call her Khaleesi.

Michael

2/14/2016 11:50:59 pm

I propose call her Giraffa camelowhitelis and nickname Whitey or Milky

CARLOS ABELARDO

2/15/2016 04:18:09 pm

OMO ES UN NOMBRE LINDO.

Holly

2/17/2016 10:46:51 pm

New Name: SAVANNAH THELUJI "Theluji" is Swahili for "Snow" ...She is like Savannah Snow...stunning

Nuri link

3/15/2016 08:38:50 pm

That name goes with the little giraffe

Nicolas

4/12/2016 11:31:50 pm

Me gustaria que su nombre sea alma

Ruth y Papa

11/13/2016 09:17:00 am

Nieves

2/8/2017 12:11:53 am

Is he still alive?

Wild Nature Institute

2/8/2017 03:17:33 am

Yes, she was seen last month alive and well!

Sydney

2/21/2019 05:01:51 pm

Checking in on Omo?

Derek Lee

2/22/2019 05:04:19 am

Omo is alive and well! The rangers report seeing her regularly.

Cheri Smith

4/11/2019 12:55:13 pm

Does Omo show any signs of having a calf? I would love to see more pictures of her. I would really love to be able to buy a 12 to 18 inch tall plush toy of her! She is beautiful!

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Leucistic Giraffe Alive and Well in Tarangire

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