At the end of January, the Sydney Zoo announced the arrival of their newest family member: a male giraffe calf they named Tamboti! They’ve shared videos of him behind the scenes, exploring his enclosure and getting to know his mom and caretakers. One caretaker in particular has captured this little guy’s interest, and he decided to make the man his new best friend.
Watch as Tamboti adorably follows his caretaker around as he introduces the baby to his outdoor enclosure for the first time. The curious little one even stops his exploring to get some cuddles. It’s absolutely adorable, and we’re not embarrassed to admit that we’re jealous of this guy’s job!
The Zoo shared a bit more in the caption. “From small beginnings to big adventures! Here are the first steps into the larger habitat, and we couldn’t be prouder of how far our giraffe calf has come!
Moments like these are a powerful reminder of the impact passionate individuals have every day. We’re incredibly proud of the team and grateful for the care they provide to our animals, big and small.”
Related: Baby Giraffe Answers to Every Name but His Own in Cute Video
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Commenters Joke About the Baby Giraffe Being “Not Dwayne”
The Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas, also recently welcomed a baby giraffe to the family. They named the calf Dwayne, a name that he hilariously refuses to answer to. He’ll answer to other giraffes’ names, but if his caretakers call out “Dwayne”, he immediately can’t hear it or will not respond, and people cannot get enough of the stubborn baby giraffe.
Commenter @Delaney 228 joked, “Please don’t name it Dwayne.” @Monica Wisdom asked, “Does he know Not Dwayne?” @SweetNickie added, “This baby definitely likes his name!”
Even after all the Not Dwayne jokes, the Sydney Zoo explained the meaning behind their calf’s name. “The name Tamboti was chosen for a reason. Our calf had a slow start to life, but with care and time, he’s grown stronger every day. Tamboti is the name of an African tree known for growing slowly yet becoming resilient and enduring—just like him.”
We can’t wait to see more of Tamboti!
This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Feb 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.