Sacramento Zoo’s adorable baby Masai giraffe, born on March 1, has been named Sumi. The name was selected though an online vote. Photo by Sacramento Zoo

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento Zoo is excited to announce that its adorable baby Masai giraffe, born on March 1, has been given the name Sumi. The name was selected though an online vote.

The name Sumi was inspired by sumac browse, a favorite snack of Sumi’s mother, Amirah, during her pregnancy.

The name is a playful nod to the sumac tree and honors the important role that the local community plays in supporting the zoo’s giraffes through its browse donation program.

The browse donation program allows the zoo to feed many of the animals, including the giraffes, chimps, lemurs and many birds, food that is exactly like what they would consume in the wild. They enjoy nibbling leaves, stripping bark and chewing on stems to keep their brains busy and their bellies full.

Every day, the Sacramento Zoo feeds pounds of browse (non-toxic branches and leaves from specific species of trees and shrubs). The browse donation program allows members of the public to donate tree and shrub trimming from specific species of trees and shrubs to feed the zoo inhabitants.

These donations help provide fresh, nutritious browse for the giraffe herd, enriching their diet and environment. For more information on the browse donation program, visit online saczoo.org/browse-donation.

Thank you for your support. With your vote, you helped raise funds for a new shade structure for the zoo’s giraffes. Your donations are already being put to good use, with construction on the new structure already underway.