Zoo Welcomes Two New Giraffes

 

Two female giraffes make their public debut at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo this week.

 

Mystic, one year old, and Luna, age 14 months, were born at the Denver Zoo and arrived in Fort Wayne in May.  After undergoing a routine 30-day quarantine, Mystic and Luna spent a few weeks getting to know the zoo’s three other giraffes under the supervision of zoo keepers before they were allowed in the grassy two-acre exhibit in the African Journey this week.

 

Mystic and Luna join females Kalahari and Zuri, both 18 years old, and nine-year-old Jelani, the zoo’s male giraffe.  All five giraffes have access to the exhibit every day during the introduction period, but not all of them choose to go outside each day.  So far, Luna has not been into the exhibit yard, but Mystic, who is not as cautious as a typical giraffe, wasted no time exploring the yard.  “She went into the exhibit right away,” says African Journey Area Manager Amber Franze.

 

It’s easy to spot the new arrivals:  they are only about nine feet tall, compared to Zuri and Kalahari, who are about 16 feet tall, and Jelani, who is about 18 feet tall.  Mystic has a darker face than Luna.   

 

Visitors will notice a few modifications in the giraffe exhibit to accommodate the new residents—especially Mystic, who is something of a trouble maker, according to Franze.  The exhibit’s electrified perimeter cables are temporarily festooned with plastic caution tape to make the cables more visible to the giraffes.  The cables deliver a gentle shock when touched.  Chicken wire was added between some cables to prevent escapes—which Mystic attempted while the cables were turned off during the giraffes’ introduction period. 

 

The giraffe herd was expanded in anticipation of the 2009 opening of the new African Journey, which includes plans for a giraffe feeding station.  “We think these two females will be a great addition to our giraffe herd,” says Animal Curator Mark Weldon.

 

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the area’s major attractions, drawing 500,000 visitors every year.  The zoo was named one of the country’s “Ten Best Zoos for Kids.”  The zoo is open every day 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until October 14.  Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children age 2-14, and $7.00 for seniors over age 60.  Babies age 1 and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free.