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New Giraffes have Arrived
Werribee Open Range Zoo has welcomed the arrival of two one-year-old giraffes, Amani and Thembi.
The two boys from Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo caught the attention of many motorists as they cruised along the highway in special transport crates onboard a low loader vehicle. The 850 kilometre road trip lasted 11 hours and 45 minutes.
The Journey
Below you can view a video of some of the highlights of Amani and Thembi's road trip.
To see more videos check out the Giraffe Keeper Blog
Zoo Keepers, Debbie and Justine, are keeping a watchful eye on the laidback pair while they settle into their new Giraffe House. You can keep up to date with how the boys are settling in by checking out the Keeper blog.
The pair will be in quarantine for 30 days, after which they will join their grandfather, Anthony, and another male giraffe, Kinta, in a wide open savannah alongside rhino, zebra and antelope.
Amani and Thembi, who are half brothers, have never met their grandfather and have never mixed with other animal species, so their new home will be a true African adventure for them.
The Route
Did You Know?
The giraffe is the tallest of all mammals, males reaching a height of about 5.5m and females about 5m.
To circulate blood all through this tall body, the giraffe has the biggest heart of any animal, weighing about 12 kg!
A giraffe's tongue can reach up to 45cm long and 8cm wide! The tongue's dark colour prevents blistering in the sun.
Always alert for danger, giraffes sleep for approximately two hours a day, and catch quick 5-6 minute naps for the rest of the time.
Close to 2m long, the giraffe's neck has seven vertebrae like other mammals, just longer. The long neck means great changes in blood pressure as a giraffe lowers or raises its head, so special blood vessels and valves compensate. Without this adaptation, giraffes would faint when blood pressure increased.
