Witten, the Dallas Zoo’s new giraffe named after Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten, was introduced to the public today.
Born on April 25, Witten weighs 185 pounds and Dallas Zoo Vice President Harrison Edell said he expects the giraffe to remain in Dallas with his mom Chrystal for several years. Witten is curious and outgoing and always wants to know what zookeepers are doing.
Edell said there are only 80,000 giraffes living in the wild in Africa today, a 40 percent decline in 15 years. Dallas Zoo participates in the Giraffe Species Survival plan.
He said he expects Witten to do well because Chrystal is an experienced mom. After coming into the savannah exhibit, Chrystal came over to the bridge where reporters were filming to see who we were and what we were doing before she allowed Witten to come over.
For now, Witten will be out on the savannah on Fridays and Sundays and possibly a day during the week as well.
— David Taffet
