Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Meet Onduli, The Birmingham Zoo’s newest giraffe
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The Birmingham Zoo has a tall new resident! Onduli, a one-year-old male giraffe, arrived from the Dallas Zoo this week and is settling into his new home in the Trails of Africa exhibit.
Onduli’s journey to Birmingham
Onduli was born Sept. 24, 2025, to parents Katie and Tebogo at the Dallas Zoo. After arriving in Birmingham, he’s already getting along well with the zoo’s three resident female giraffes: Zuri, 16; Ruby, 7; and Mopane, 2.
Onduli means “giraffe” in Oshiwambo, a language spoken in parts of northern Namibia and Angola. The name honors the region where conservation partners work to protect wild giraffe populations.
The giraffe’s arrival is part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which helps coordinate animal populations among accredited zoos and aquariums.
The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama’s only AZA-accredited facility, making it a key part of the state’s zoological and conservation community.
Now that Onduli and his new herd mates are getting along, he’s ready to meet visitors at The Birmingham Zoo! You can see him now at The Birmingham Zoo’s Trails of Africa exhibit.
