Search icon

News

14th Dec 2020

Baby giraffe named ‘Margaret’ in honour of first woman to receive Covid vaccine

Melissa Carton

This is so sweet.

Last week Fermanagh woman Margaret Keenan (90) made history by receiving the Pfizer coronavirus jab in the UK.

The very same day a baby giraffe was born in Whipsnade Zoo in England and the staff decided to name the new calf after Ms Keenan to honour her.

Margaret is the first person in the world to receive a Covid-19 vaccine outside clinical trials and made headlines across the world with her brave act.

Wanting to commemorate Margaret’s bravery Mark Holden of Whipsnade Zoo said;

“2020 has been a challenging year for the world, and the arrival of our precious giraffe calf on the same day, and actually at the same time, as the much-anticipated Covid-19 vaccination was first administered feels like a real moment of hope, and one we are so keen to celebrate and remember.”

Baby giraffe Margaret is part of an endangered species of giraffe and just like Margaret Keenan has given hope to the world by successfully receiving the first Covid vaccine, baby Margaret gives hope to her species.

“With fewer than 9,000 individuals living in the wild, this little one’s arrival is a vital boost to the numbers of this endangered species.

We very much hope that Margaret Keenan will be able to come in and visit her namesake one day soon, so we can introduce them in person.”

I think it was an absolutely fantastic idea on the part of the staff at Whipsnade Zoo to name their new giraffe after Ms Keenan as her vaccination is truly a historical moment that will be talked about for years to come.

Both the stories of Ms Keenan and endangered giraffe Margaret are inspirational and really give us some feel good vibes coming now to the end of 2020.

Here’s to 2021 being a fresh start for all of us.