Rothschild's Giraffe - Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi
-33.8432, 151.24
Field Notes
Description:
The Giraffe is an even-toed ungulate and is the tallest of all animals. Males have been recorded as growing up to 5.5 metres in height and weighing over 1000 kg. Giraffes are characterised by their extremely long neck, long legs and distinctive spotted coat pattern. Plenty of facts about giraffes can be found at the Taronga Zoo reference.
Habitat:
Captive animals at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia.
Notes:
Not too many zoos around the world can boast a view like this, that being Sydney and its harbour. As a child, a trip to Taronga Zoo was always a treat, but what was then seen through a child's eyes as a mere spectacle is now fully appreciated, through adult eyes, as a real effort in conservation and education. I've visited many zoos around the world and would rate Sydney's Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in central NSW as amongst the very best. Others have been pitiful. I've seen wild giraffe in Southern and Eastern Africa as well, and have also seen the results of poaching, human population growth and habitat loss. Now, I understand and appreciate the vital role that zoos play in wildlife conservation, particularly through various breeding programs like those that are in place for the various giraffe species, including these Rothschild's Giraffe.
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