Nashville Zoo installed a reticulated giraffe sculpture in Nashville International Airport's rental car lobby in early January and asked the public to help name the two-story-tall ambassador.
Guests were encouraged to make donations to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to select their favorite name.
The winning name is Muziki, which is the Swahili word for “music.” The other two names in the contest were Harmony, meaning a pleasing arrangement of notes, and Balozi, which is the Swahili word for “ambassador.” Muziki won with $218 raised. A total of $404 was raised for giraffe conservation.
Over the last three decades, the wild giraffe population has declined about 30% because of poaching and habitat destruction. GCF supports initiatives ranging from census monitoring to hands-on conservation actions to protect and increase these populations.
The giraffe sculpture was created by Dorand Design Studios and installed with help from Clear Channel Airports who secured the location. The sculpture is accompanied by a few pieces of luggage and signs pointing toward Nashville Zoo (7 miles away) and Kenya (8,104 miles away).
About Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is actively engaged in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives around the globe as well as in our own backyard. The Zoo attracts more than 1,200,000 visitors annually and is considered one of the top attractions in Nashville. Nashville Zoo is located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information about Nashville Zoo, visit nashvillezoo.org.