giraffes in New Zealand
- Thread starter nicola08
- Start date
Yes it is necessary to fly them before they reach a certain height. They can be moved by Air but the problem is usually the height of the planes cargo doors. Most animal transport companies design and built flight crates for Giraffes with a roof that can be lowered to get them in and out of the plane and the raised again during the flight. But its still a huge (and expensive) operation to move a Giraffe by air. Not to mention risky
Its no longer an issue for New Zealand anyway given that they won't allow the import of Giraffes (except from Australia) anymore
Thanks for your reply, that makes sense. I'm not sure if any of the new Dreamliner planes have larger cargo doors, they possibly might, though I doubt planes are designed with transportation of giraffe in mind.
There are relatively few matches that would be considered acceptable to prevent inbreeding in NZ so if Orana or Wellington desired to import a male, Australia would be the only other option.
I'm not sure of the capacity of Orana and Wellington but with five and three adult females respectively, I'd say they'd be pretty close to it.
Tisa and Zahara are either unrelated or only very distantly related to Makulu, Masamba, Jabari, Ndale and Dume at Hamilton Zoo. On Tisa (1990)'s passing, they may send the young female, Zuri (who is related to all those males) to Orana and import one of the males to breed with Zahara (2004). I'm not sure what limitations road travel still poses for giraffe, but they may be able to negotiate something.
Historical info on Wellington Zoo's breeding pair of giraffe. Their current herd (all female) consist of Tisa, Zahara and Zuri (daughter of Rukiya)
Wellington Zoo Giraffe
Ricky (M)
Born 19 September 1987 at Taronga Zoo
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 4 November 1988
Died at Wellington Zoo 15 November 2009
Tisa (F)
Born 18 October 1990 at Melbourne Zoo
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 25 May 1991
Still at Wellington Zoo
Offspring:
Zawadi (F)
Born 25 January 1995 at Wellington Zoo
Sent to Werribee Open Range Zoo 19 December 1995
Unnamed (F)
Born 15 September 1996 at Wellington Zoo
Died at Wellington Zoo 16 September 1996
Ndoki (M)
Born 22 May 1998 at Wellington Zoo
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 3 March 1999
Unnamed (F)
Born 2 June 2000 at Wellington Zoo
Died at Wellington Zoo 9 June 2000
Rukiya (F)
Born 23 September 2001 at Wellington Zoo
Sent to Auckland Zoo 16 September 2002
Zahara (F)
Born 17 March 2004 at Wellington Zoo
Still at Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo Giraffe
Ricky (M)
Born 19 September 1987 at Taronga Zoo
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 4 November 1988
Died at Wellington Zoo 15 November 2009
Tisa (F)
Born 18 October 1990 at Melbourne Zoo
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 25 May 1991
Still at Wellington Zoo
Offspring:
Zawadi (F)
Born 25 January 1995 at Wellington Zoo
Sent to Werribee Open Range Zoo 19 December 1995
Unnamed (F)
Born 15 September 1996 at Wellington Zoo
Died at Wellington Zoo 16 September 1996
Ndoki (M)
Born 22 May 1998 at Wellington Zoo
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 3 March 1999
Unnamed (F)
Born 2 June 2000 at Wellington Zoo
Died at Wellington Zoo 9 June 2000
Rukiya (F)
Born 23 September 2001 at Wellington Zoo
Sent to Auckland Zoo 16 September 2002
Zahara (F)
Born 17 March 2004 at Wellington Zoo
Still at Wellington Zoo
Article on the deaths of giraffe at Auckland Zoo. I have identified the giraffe mentioned in the article below:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6482001_Mortality_of_captive_giraffe_Giraffa_camelopardalis_associated_with_serous_fat_atrophy_A_review_of_five_cases_at_Auckland_Zoo
A - Tsavo Male (1980 – 1993)
B - Manuel Male (1991 -1994)
C -Kendall Female (1992 -1994)
D - Kinshasa Female (1980 – 2000)
E - Manyara Female (1983 – 2001)
F - Kiri Female (1984 – 2003)
G - Kay Female (1986 – 2007)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6482001_Mortality_of_captive_giraffe_Giraffa_camelopardalis_associated_with_serous_fat_atrophy_A_review_of_five_cases_at_Auckland_Zoo
A - Tsavo Male (1980 – 1993)
B - Manuel Male (1991 -1994)
C -Kendall Female (1992 -1994)
D - Kinshasa Female (1980 – 2000)
E - Manyara Female (1983 – 2001)
F - Kiri Female (1984 – 2003)
G - Kay Female (1986 – 2007)
Tisa (1990) at Wellington Zoo underwent a successful medical procedure last week:
Tisa the Giraffe undergoes successful medical procedure
Tisa, who turns 27 this year and is the oldest giraffe in New Zealand, must be the oldest giraffe on record for a New Zealand zoo or Australian zoo?
Does anyone know if the female calf at Auckland has been named yet?
Tisa the Giraffe undergoes successful medical procedure
Tisa, who turns 27 this year and is the oldest giraffe in New Zealand, must be the oldest giraffe on record for a New Zealand zoo or Australian zoo?
Does anyone know if the female calf at Auckland has been named yet?
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
The calf was named Kabili.
Good name, hopefully Rukiaya will give birth again this year.
As mentioned in the Auckland Zoo thread this week, their breeding bull, Zabulu (1998), passed away this week which leaves all New Zealand zoos with single sex giraffe herds and Auckland Zoo, Wellington Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park all need to import a new bull if they wish to breed naturally. Does anyone know how effective AI has been in giraffes?
I assume that male giraffes that are unrelated to the females in the New Zealand Zoos in Australia are limited, but there must be a few viable options. Auckland and Wellington both have hybrids females so clearly maintaining the Rothchild's line has not been a priority,
I assume that male giraffes that are unrelated to the females in the New Zealand Zoos in Australia are limited, but there must be a few viable options. Auckland and Wellington both have hybrids females so clearly maintaining the Rothchild's line has not been a priority,
The Singapore zoo holds a pure-bred Rothschild's giraffe male (ex Arnhem - Burgers' Zoo) I believe. It would not be mega hard to get him over to Australia / New Zealand I am sure.
In Europe, there is a real surplus of males in the Rothschild's (which also is true for females). And potentially thru import thru third country (e.g. Singapore or Hongkong ... whatever) it should be possible to get around the import restrictions in the ZAA region.
In Europe, there is a real surplus of males in the Rothschild's (which also is true for females). And potentially thru import thru third country (e.g. Singapore or Hongkong ... whatever) it should be possible to get around the import restrictions in the ZAA region.
um, no, because as already stated (I think on this thread), giraffe imports are a closed circle with Australia and New Zealand.
None can be imported from anywhere else until there have been new legislations drawn up. Whenever that may be.
Orana Park Giraffe: I didn't realise this until recently, but another female giraffe was imported from Melbourne Zoo in 1988. She was called Mandy and was born in 1987. Mandy did not conceive prior to Jaffa's death in 1991 (at four years of age she could have potentially conceived that year) and she did not get another oppotunity to breed until Harold arrived in 1994. Harold had four females to breed with initially: Celeste, Sarita, Nathalie and Nathalie. Mandy died on the 3rd January 2000, her first and only calf was stillborn that same day. Makes me wonder if New Year's Eve 1999 played any role in this given the affect fireworks have on giraffe.
the giraffes are kept inside their house at night and Orana is, in any case, a long way outside the city.
I remember seeing Mandy being crate trained at the Melbourne zoo! I would have had a photo of her at one stage too. I don't know why the name Mandy has stayed with me all these years, but its probably because its a name I could pronounce as a young kid!
She must have been quite young when you saw her as she was born in 1987 and came to Orana Wildlife Park in 1988. It's a shame that the breeding bull at the time died in 1991 as the two youngest females, Mandy and Nathalie (born 1988), were approaching breeding age and did not have a chance to breed until Harold arrived and matured. His first calf was born in late 1997 to Nathalie, who then had six more calves with Harold. Mandy, as mentioned above, only had the calf which was stillborn the day she died in January 2000.
I'll be interested to see if Orana Wildlife Park import a new male for breeding. I assumed they wouldn't given they've just acquired two young females, therefore increasing the herd to five adult females however, I didn't take into account that one female is 20 years old this year, and the other in her teens so their reproductive years will be limited, especially if they import a young bull which will take time to mature, as they often do. Realistically, they could only have three breeding females which has been surpassed in the late 1990s when Orana had Celeste, Sarita, Mandy and Nathalie all of reproductive age.
Auckland Zoo Giraffe History
Auckland Zoo’s first breeding pair of giraffe were named John and Anita:
John
Born at London Zoo 04/08/1958
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/08/1960
Died at Auckland Zoo 03/07/1976
Anita
Born at London Zoo 15/08/1960
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 03/08/1963
Died at Auckland Zoo 01/08/1970
Anita gave birth to three calves:
Peter (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 01/02/1965
Died at Auckland Zoo 17/07/1975
Joanne (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1966
Died at Auckland Zoo 03/08/1968
Kris (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 30/05/1970
Died at Auckland Zoo 31/05/1970
After Anita’s death, a new female was imported named Willoughby:
Willoughby
Born at Taronga Zoo 19/09/1960
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 19/11/1973
Died at Auckland Zoo 05/05/1980
Willoughby gave birth to three calves:
Unnamed (M)
Stillborn at Auckland Zoo 14/06/1974
Kahiroa (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1975
Died at Auckland Zoo 22/06/1986
Kris (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 30/07/1977
Died at Auckland Zoo 03/02/1978
After Willoughby’s death, a herd was established with Kahiroa joined by two new males named Lo Cecil and Tsavo and two new females named Kinshasa and Manyara:
Lo Cecil
Born at Honolulu Zoo 27/05/1980
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/02/1981
Died at Auckland Zoo 05/11/1981
Tsavo
Born at Honolulu Zoo 13/06/1980
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/02/1981
Died at Auckland Zoo 30/08/1993
Kinshasa
Born at Honolulu Zoo 24/06/1980
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/02/1981
Died at Auckland Zoo 07/07/2000
Manyara (F)
Born at Honolulu Zoo 19/04/1983
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 22/11/1983
Died at Auckland Zoo 04/07/2001
Kinshasa gave birth to six calves:
Kiri (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 22/09/1984
Died at Auckland Zoo 19/05/2003
Kay (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 19/09/1986
Died at Auckland Zoo 08/06/2008
Unnamed (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 05/08/1988
Died at Auckland Zoo 05/08/1988
Unnamed (M)
Stillborn at Auckland Zoo 08/01/1990
Unnamed (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 12/05/1991
Died at Auckland Zoo 13/05/1991
Unnamed (M)
Stillborn at Auckland Zoo 06/12/1992
Manyara gave birth to four calves:
Miombo (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 28/01/1989
Died during transit 10/11/1989
Unnamed (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 06/08/1990
Died at Auckland Zoo 06/08/1990
Mussa (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 06/08/1990
Died at Auckland Zoo 10/08/1990
Manuel (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 11/12/1991
Died at Auckland Zoo 10/07/1994
Kiri gave birth to three calves:
Kenjo (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 06/05/1989
Died at Auckland Zoo 29/09/1989
Khan (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 22/12/1990
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 02/10/1991
Kendall (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 26/11/1992
Died at Auckland Zoo 23/07/1994
Kay gave birth to two calves:
Kampala (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 26/04/1991
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 02/10/1991
Oskar (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1994
Sent to Werribee Zoo 06/12/1994
After the death of the last male, Tsavo, a new male was imported named Zabulu:
Zabulu (M)
Born at Orana Wildlife Park 07/01/1998
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 06/12/1998
Died at Auckland Zoo 19/04/2017
Kiri gave birth to one calf:
Masamba (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 27/11/2002
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 21/04/2004
Kay gave birth to four calves:
Jabari (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 02/12/2002
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 22/04/2004
Ndale (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 04/08/2004
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 27/09/2005
Dume (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 04/01/2006
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 28/02/2007
Ntombi (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 25/07/2007
Sent to Taronga Western Plains Zoo 26/11/2008
Additional information:
This family line of giraffe at Auckland Zoo started with the import of John in 1960 and ended 48 years later with the export of his great grandaughter, Ntombi, in 2008.
John sired five offspring, of which Kahiroa was the only one to survive to adulthood and produce offspring.
Kahiroa sired two offspring, Kiri and Kay, both of which survived to adulthood and produced offspring.
Prior to arriving at Auckland Zoo at the age of thirteen years, Willoughby had given birth to six calves, five of which had died in infancy.
Willoughby was in calf when she died at the age of nineteen years in 1980. The father was her four year old son, Kahiroa.
Tsavo and Kinshasa had the same father. Kinshasa and Manyara had the same mother.
Lo Cecil was euthanised after injuring himself by running into a fence. He had been spooked by explosive fireworks at a public display at Western Springs.
Tsavo sired thirteen offspring, of which only one, Oskar, survived to adulthood. Oskar sired no offspring and died in 2002.
Manyara gave birth to the first set of giraffe twins born at Auckland Zoo in 1990.
Kiri was euthanised after injuring her leg, following a fright with an electric fence.
Ntombi is the only member of the third generation to breed to date, with her three surviving brothers and one surviving half brother all in the bachelor herd at Hamilton Zoo.
Ntombi has given birth to males Fanana (born 21/08/2012) and Nkosi (born 03/08/2014) and female Nyah (born 01/01/2016) at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Auckland Zoo's current herd consist of three females named Rukiya, Kiraka and Kabili:
Rukiya
Born at Wellington Zoo 23/09/2001
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 16/09/2002
Still at Auckland Zoo 13/07/2017
Kiraka
Born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo 20/11/2009
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 05/10/2011
Still at Auckland Zoo 13/07/2017
Kabili
Born at Auckland Zoo 31/12/2016
Still at Auckland Zoo 13/07/2017
Kiraka gave birth to the second set of giraffe twins born at Auckland Zoo in 2016.
Auckland Zoo’s first breeding pair of giraffe were named John and Anita:
John
Born at London Zoo 04/08/1958
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/08/1960
Died at Auckland Zoo 03/07/1976
Anita
Born at London Zoo 15/08/1960
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 03/08/1963
Died at Auckland Zoo 01/08/1970
Anita gave birth to three calves:
Peter (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 01/02/1965
Died at Auckland Zoo 17/07/1975
Joanne (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1966
Died at Auckland Zoo 03/08/1968
Kris (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 30/05/1970
Died at Auckland Zoo 31/05/1970
After Anita’s death, a new female was imported named Willoughby:
Willoughby
Born at Taronga Zoo 19/09/1960
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 19/11/1973
Died at Auckland Zoo 05/05/1980
Willoughby gave birth to three calves:
Unnamed (M)
Stillborn at Auckland Zoo 14/06/1974
Kahiroa (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1975
Died at Auckland Zoo 22/06/1986
Kris (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 30/07/1977
Died at Auckland Zoo 03/02/1978
After Willoughby’s death, a herd was established with Kahiroa joined by two new males named Lo Cecil and Tsavo and two new females named Kinshasa and Manyara:
Lo Cecil
Born at Honolulu Zoo 27/05/1980
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/02/1981
Died at Auckland Zoo 05/11/1981
Tsavo
Born at Honolulu Zoo 13/06/1980
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/02/1981
Died at Auckland Zoo 30/08/1993
Kinshasa
Born at Honolulu Zoo 24/06/1980
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 24/02/1981
Died at Auckland Zoo 07/07/2000
Manyara (F)
Born at Honolulu Zoo 19/04/1983
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 22/11/1983
Died at Auckland Zoo 04/07/2001
Kinshasa gave birth to six calves:
Kiri (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 22/09/1984
Died at Auckland Zoo 19/05/2003
Kay (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 19/09/1986
Died at Auckland Zoo 08/06/2008
Unnamed (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 05/08/1988
Died at Auckland Zoo 05/08/1988
Unnamed (M)
Stillborn at Auckland Zoo 08/01/1990
Unnamed (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 12/05/1991
Died at Auckland Zoo 13/05/1991
Unnamed (M)
Stillborn at Auckland Zoo 06/12/1992
Manyara gave birth to four calves:
Miombo (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 28/01/1989
Died during transit 10/11/1989
Unnamed (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 06/08/1990
Died at Auckland Zoo 06/08/1990
Mussa (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 06/08/1990
Died at Auckland Zoo 10/08/1990
Manuel (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 11/12/1991
Died at Auckland Zoo 10/07/1994
Kiri gave birth to three calves:
Kenjo (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 06/05/1989
Died at Auckland Zoo 29/09/1989
Khan (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 22/12/1990
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 02/10/1991
Kendall (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 26/11/1992
Died at Auckland Zoo 23/07/1994
Kay gave birth to two calves:
Kampala (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 26/04/1991
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 02/10/1991
Oskar (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1994
Sent to Werribee Zoo 06/12/1994
After the death of the last male, Tsavo, a new male was imported named Zabulu:
Zabulu (M)
Born at Orana Wildlife Park 07/01/1998
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 06/12/1998
Died at Auckland Zoo 19/04/2017
Kiri gave birth to one calf:
Masamba (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 27/11/2002
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 21/04/2004
Kay gave birth to four calves:
Jabari (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 02/12/2002
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 22/04/2004
Ndale (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 04/08/2004
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 27/09/2005
Dume (M)
Born at Auckland Zoo 04/01/2006
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 28/02/2007
Ntombi (F)
Born at Auckland Zoo 25/07/2007
Sent to Taronga Western Plains Zoo 26/11/2008
Additional information:
This family line of giraffe at Auckland Zoo started with the import of John in 1960 and ended 48 years later with the export of his great grandaughter, Ntombi, in 2008.
John sired five offspring, of which Kahiroa was the only one to survive to adulthood and produce offspring.
Kahiroa sired two offspring, Kiri and Kay, both of which survived to adulthood and produced offspring.
Prior to arriving at Auckland Zoo at the age of thirteen years, Willoughby had given birth to six calves, five of which had died in infancy.
Willoughby was in calf when she died at the age of nineteen years in 1980. The father was her four year old son, Kahiroa.
Tsavo and Kinshasa had the same father. Kinshasa and Manyara had the same mother.
Lo Cecil was euthanised after injuring himself by running into a fence. He had been spooked by explosive fireworks at a public display at Western Springs.
Tsavo sired thirteen offspring, of which only one, Oskar, survived to adulthood. Oskar sired no offspring and died in 2002.
Manyara gave birth to the first set of giraffe twins born at Auckland Zoo in 1990.
Kiri was euthanised after injuring her leg, following a fright with an electric fence.
Ntombi is the only member of the third generation to breed to date, with her three surviving brothers and one surviving half brother all in the bachelor herd at Hamilton Zoo.
Ntombi has given birth to males Fanana (born 21/08/2012) and Nkosi (born 03/08/2014) and female Nyah (born 01/01/2016) at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Auckland Zoo's current herd consist of three females named Rukiya, Kiraka and Kabili:
Rukiya
Born at Wellington Zoo 23/09/2001
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 16/09/2002
Still at Auckland Zoo 13/07/2017
Kiraka
Born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo 20/11/2009
Arrived at Auckland Zoo 05/10/2011
Still at Auckland Zoo 13/07/2017
Kabili
Born at Auckland Zoo 31/12/2016
Still at Auckland Zoo 13/07/2017
Kiraka gave birth to the second set of giraffe twins born at Auckland Zoo in 2016.
Last edited:
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
I was not aware that Hamilton Zoo received two giraffe (Khan and Kampala) from Auckland in 1991. They are not there now, and must have left/died before Ndoki's arrival in 1998, as he was the only giraffe present at the time. I had thought Ndoki was Hamilton Zoo's first giraffe. Do you have any idea what happened to Khan and Kampala? Did they definitely go to Hamilton?
Also, where was Miombo heading when she died in transit?
Also, where was Miombo heading when she died in transit?
Kahn and Kampala both died in January 1992, three months after they arrived at Hamilton Zoo. Kahn died first 02/01/1992 and then Kampala just three weeks later 26/01/1992. They were the first giraffe at Hamilton Zoo.
A visitor told me many years ago they died after eating contaminated grass. I don't know the full details i.e. if this was provided to them as browse or if they managed to reach it from their enclosure. Hamilton Zoo was then without giraffe until Ndoki arrived 03/03/1999.
I'm not sure where Miombo was heading for. I'm guessing Australia as complications can be high for giraffes when being transported by plane (as oppose to by road or by ship) and it's unlikely she would have been required outside of the region.