Giraffe reunion to follow sea voyage

Auckland Zoo's two-year-old giraffe Mdomo has set sail for Timaru this morning, bound for Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park where on arrival she will be reunited with her older half-sister, Shira.

Mdomo's relocation as part of the Australasian zoos' regional breeding programme for giraffe, comes just three months after Shira joined Orana's female herd. 

Auckland Zoo Pridelands team leader, Nat Sullivan, predicts the two giraffes, who were born within just four months of each other and became great mates growing up, will be quick to recognise each other.

"It'll be great to see them reunited, and really nice for them both to be able to hang out with each other again," says Nat.  ​

Avoiding peak-hour traffic, Mdomo’s big journey began with a 4am road trip through the streets of suburban Auckland en route to the Ports of Auckland to board the SHAOSHING, a 25,000 tonne Swire Shipping container ship to set sail south.

For the two to three day sea voyage and road trip to her new home, Mdomo will be accompanied by Nat, her fellow Pridelands keeper Sarah Ashton, Zoo vet Dr Sarah Alexander, and Orana Wildlife Park keeper Rosie Pinder.  On-board luggage for the 586kg giraffe will include medical supplies, and plenty of food options – from Lucerne and Puka browse to pellets and a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Like Shira, Mdomo is also a part-Rothschild's giraffe, the rarest of the nine giraffe sub-species, so is genetically very valuable.

Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund supports the research and conservation work of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) whose research has led to both Rothschild's and West African sub-species being formally classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List.

Orana Wildlife Park's Exotic Mammals manager, Rob Clifford, says he and the Orana team are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Mdomo.

"Mdomo will be integrated with our herd of four females, including her half-sister Shira, who has settled in very nicely. We’re delighted at the transfer of these two giraffes to support the managed regional breeding programme for these wonderful animals, and in time, following programme recommendations, we aim to source a suitable breeding male," says Mr Clifford.

For updates on Mdomo's journey, follow Auckland Zoo on facebook

Giraffe Fast Facts:

1. Auckland Zoo giraffe Mdomo, born in November 2013, is the offspring of male Zabulu (a Rothschild’s giraffe) and female Kiraka.
2. The Rothschild's giraffe (Uganda) has an estimated wild population of just 670 animals. An additional 450 are in zoos worldwide – a valuable insurance population.
3. There is just one species of giraffe, the world’s tallest land animal, but 9 sub-species. Since 1998, habitat loss and poaching has resulted in giraffe populations plummeting from 140,000 individuals to just 80,000 individuals today.
4. Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund supports the research and conservation work of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) whose research has led to two giraffe sub-species (Rothschild’s and West African being formally classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.