by Michelle Stein posted in Parenting

After two weeks of (adorable) namelessness, April the giraffe's newborn calf finally has a name of his very own.
The viral sensation of the mama giraffe's pregnancy, labor and delivery, prompted Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York, to hold a nationwide naming contest for their newest addition. There were a total of 10 options from which voters could choose: Apollo, Geoffrey, Gio, Harpur, Noah, Ollie, Patch, Patches, Unity and "Allysa's choice" -- in reference to the giraffe keeper at the zoo, Allysa Swilley.
Drum roll please ...
The winning selection, which was announced today on Good Morning America, was "Allysa's choice." Swilley and other park officials settled on the name Tajiri, or Taj for short. The word actually means "hope" in Swahili, explained Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park. ?They picked that name because they hope that we can continue forward this message of conservation for sustainability and preservation of giraffes in the wild and also our efforts in captivity,? Patch said on GMA.
A monetary donation was requested for each vote in the naming contest. Proceeds will now be split between giraffe care at the zoo and giraffe conservation efforts, Patch said.

The great giraffe crotch watch began when a live video feed of a very pregnant April was started back in February. For nearly two months, millions of viewers from around the globe anxiously checked in in hope...