Perth Giraffe Inkosi Is Going To Adelaide Today!
Perth Zoo’s three year old giraffe Inkosi (Zulu for “the king”) is headed to his new home in Adelaide today as part of a cooperative regional breeding program.
Two zookeepers and a vet will accompany the 800kg giraffe on the three day, 2,750km journey across the Nullabor. He’ll be able to move around, stand and sit inside the specially designed transport crate, which zookeepers have familiarised him with over the course of over a year.
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“Perth Zoo’s conservation efforts extend well beyond the gates, and Inkosi’s transfer is a great example of this vital work in action,” said Environment Minister Reece Whitby.
“Perth Zoo are experts in giraffe transfers, and the dedicated team has been working hard on this major milestone for conservation.”
Inkosi’s new home will be at the Monarto Safari Park in South Australia, the country’s largest open-range zoo, with the hope that he’ll sire calves in the future. Regional breeding programs like this help to ensure the genetic diversity of endangered animal populations, with giraffe populations in the wild declining by 40% over the past three decades.
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Header image: Perth Zoo