Baby giraffe named Olmy, short for Frederick Law Olmstead

Evan Bourtis
Updated: July 26, 2022 - 6:22 PM
Published: June 1, 2022 - 11:23 AM

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — Seneca Park Zoo officials and County Executive Adam Bello announced that Olmy is the name for the baby giraffe born on April 29.

Olmy is short for Frederick Law Olmstead, the designer of Seneca Park as well as Central Park in NYC. This year marks 200 years since the birth of Olmstead, known as one of America’s most influential landscape designers.

Bello and zoo superintendent Steve Lacy announced the male giraffe’s name during a Wednesday morning ceremony. Lacy said that Olmy was 107 pounds when he was born and has grown by 80 pounds.

The public can now see Olmy. During his first month after birth, Olmy spent him with his mother, Iggy, away from public view. Lacy said that success with giraffe pregnancies are typically low but Olmy has been healthy since his birth.

Zoo staff found out that Iggy was pregnant by identifying hormones during a blood test. Lacy said that Olmy has been nursing well and has been running well.

"Things have really worked out wonderfully and now we have a six-foot-tall, 185 bundle of joy," he said.

[Monroe County]

Video of Olmy running, courtesy of Monroe County

Interview with zoo superintendent Steve Lacy

Video about giraffe from Executive Bello