Excitement is building ahead of another new arrival at Halls Gap Zoo.
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The zoo’s giraffe herd will grow to three when 22-month-old giraffe Zawadi arrives next week.
The young male giraffe is expected to make the drive down from Altina Wildlife Park in Darlington Point, New South Wales late next week.
Standing at just three metres tall, he still has some growing to do to catch the two current giraffes at Halls Gap which stand at about 4.8 metres.
He is headed for Halls Gap having originally been earmarked for Melbourne Zoo.
“He was originally going to Melbourne but they want to do renovations on their enclosure,” Halls Gap Zoo general manager Carlee Vokes said.
”His mum had a calf at Altina so he needed a new home so she could raise that calf.
“Giraffe are herd species to they need to live with others, so he will join our two old boys at Halls Gap.”
Zawadi is likely to live out his life at Halls Gap, but there is the possibility he could be moved.
“As far as we are aware he will stay here but he is not castrated at the moment so if he is needed for breeding program he could move on,” Ms Vokes said.
The zoo has been preparing for his arrival, introducing new water and feed stations to ensure there is an adequate amount for the three giraffes.
Ms Vokes said there is plenty of excitement at the zoo ahead of Zawadi’s arrival.
“We love our giraffes so we are really excited.”
Zawadi will be driven in a specialised crate for the more than 500 kilometre journey. He is likely to arrive late next week, but could be later depending on the time it takes for him to be crate trained.
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