PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) has a leg up on all the summer happenings and is kicking things off with a celebration of World Giraffe Day on Thursday, June 21, at the Detroit Zoo’s Giraffe Encounter.

Zookeeper talks at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. will highlight not only the behavior of these iconic African animals, but also giraffes’ plight in the wild and conservation efforts underway to preserve the species.

“Giraffe populations have plummeted in the wild,” said Scott Carter, DZS chief life sciences officer. “There is growing concern due to poaching, loss of habitat, and the effects of war and civil unrest across Africa.”

The Detroit Zoo’s Giraffe Encounter, an elevated platform overlooking the animals’ habitat, will be open for photo opportunities throughout the day. With the vantage point of these 18-foot-tall creatures, visitors will be able to view reticulated giraffes Kivuli, 8, Jabari, 10, Mpenzi, 3, and Zawadi, 1, in their recently expanded habitat, as well as the zebras and wildebeests in the habitat just to the north. One hundred visitors will also have the opportunity to feed these long-necked creatures at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at a cost of $5 (tickets can be purchased at the booth just inside the main entrance and are available on a first-come, first-served basis).

Fun learning elements will be incorporated into the celebration, demonstrating what it’s like to be a giraffe – including having a 22-inch-long tongue, seven neck vertebrae (the same number as humans) and enormous hoof prints, which will be measured to show visitors how far these animals can move in a single step. Guests will also get an up-close look at the different types of food giraffes consume in a single day – which can be up to 75 pounds. In addition, a giant birthday card for female giraffe, Kivuli, who is turning 9 on June 19, will be available for guests to sign.

The giraffe habitat recently underwent a dramatic transformation, thanks to a $1.25 million gift from Cynthia and Edsel Ford. In addition to the expansion of their outdoor yard, the animals’ indoor area is now more than double the size of their previous space and large enough for the entire herd to be together during the colder months. Windows and skylights were incorporated to provide more sunlight and fresh air when the animals are indoors, and a natural substrate was used for the flooring, which is good for the giraffes’ feet and joints.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared giraffes officially in danger of extinction in 2016. Giraffe numbers have plummeted in the wild by more than 40 percent in recent decades, resulting in the species moving to the “Vulnerable” category on the IUCN Red List.