Alan Gibbs and his giraffes

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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the following video was on current affairs programme Close Up last night. Alan Gibbs is a NZ millionaire who owns the Keystone Wildlife Conservancy north of Auckland in the Warkworth area. The name is a bit overblown given that he currently only has three giraffes and two zebra (or did; I'm not sure of current numbers actually), as well as a scattering of more common "farm"-type animals like llamas and such, but he does provide potential future holding space for spare hooved-stock and he has applied for import permits for a range of more exotic creatures, and he has permission to house all sorts of other zoo animals. [The import application, in 2007, was for zebra, white rhinoceros, springbok, scimitar-horned oryx, blackbuck, bongo, sitatunga, nilgai, sable antelope and waterbuck; he has also applied for a giraffe import permit].

Anyway, there's not much information anywhere about Keystone so I thought this might be interesting. The video is actually about amphibious cars (and the name Keystone isn't even mentioned) but the giraffes make a very very brief appearance at one point, and the presenter says that next week there will be another piece about the other side of Gibbs' property (i.e. including the animals). I'll post that link after it airs. (I know almost nothing about Keystone, so it will be very interesting for me at any rate!)

Daycare debate | News Video
(the video is called "Trucking Through The Waves" and is listed under the "Daycare Debate" video)
 
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Ive been up there a couple of times, though never met Alan Gibbs, he doesn't spend a lot of time there as he has homes all over the world apparently.
The title Wildlife Conservancy is a bit misleading however. Odd Art Collection might be a closer description.
They seem to be more interested in the giraffes as a form of art work rather than a conservation program, although the giraffe enclosure is very good.
The staff too seem to be works of art, mainly all young good looking girls.
He's got all sorts of stuff on his property, from a western style town complete with bar, mains street, hotel and jail, to a collection of army vehicles that sometimes get used for war games.
Its not a place for the average person though, you have to be close to millionaire or some sort of celeb to get an invite there,
(How did I get there you may ask? I was there for work)
 
here's the second part of the Close Up story: Clean, green image in jeopardy | News Video (called World Of Wonders).

It is mostly about the artworks, the animals make an appearance at about 4.35 (the video is 5.57 minutes long). I only see two giraffes and no zebra. Other animals shown were bison, water buffalo, llama and red deer. Gibbs specifically says in the video that the animal species are chosen solely for the way they compliment the artworks, so kiwipo was right on the money when he says in the above post "They seem to be more interested in the giraffes as a form of art work rather than a conservation program". Its a shame but there you are.
 
They have joined ZAA as "Gibbs Wildlife Conservatory", not sure when.
 
Chlidonias said:
They have been part of ZAA for many years ... I think since he first got the giraffes but not sure on that.
Click to expand...
OK thanks, I had just never come across them before.
 
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