SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After being born on Oct. 13, the newest addition to the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend has been given a name.  The baby Masai giraffe will be known as Hadassah, taken from the biblical story of Queen Ester.

Zoo officials say the honor of naming the giraffe was given to a "generous friend of the zoo," Depositar Auto Body.

“We have been blessed, and our desire is to bless as many people as possible. This seemed a fitting opportunity,” says Alisa Depositar, co-owner of Depositar Auto Body. “Welcome to the community, Hadassah, for such a time as this.”

Zoo officials say Hadassah’s keepers are working on building a trust-based relationship with her and that they spend time talking to her and offering her leaves.

So far, she’s curious about solid foods and interested in people, but still cautious of them.

Hadassah is a Hebrew name that means “myrtle.”

“Myrtle trees are associated with peace, love, and prosperity, so it seems like a great name for a giraffe calf that’s already so loved by the community,” says Potawatomi Zoo Director Josh Sisk. “Since we’re a non-profit organization, donations to name animals like this calf are a special way to further drive our mission of education and conservation.”

From Potawatomi Zoo:

Gestation for giraffes is 14 to 15 months. Mothers give birth standing up, and the calf will fall about six feet to the ground at birth. Calves can stand, walk, nurse, and run within hours of being born.

The calf will nurse for about 9-12 months, but she’ll start eating solid food at around four months old.

Scientists estimate that there are fewer than 90,000 giraffes in the world. Their conservation status is considered vulnerable to extinction.

Masai giraffes are the largest of the species or subspecies of giraffe. They’re native to southern Kenya and Tanzania. They’re considered endangered in the wild, and their population is decreasing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates there are around 35,000 Masai giraffes.