The Oklahoma City Zoo participates in World Giraffe Day each year as part of a world conservation effort to protect the species.Experts estimate the giraffe population has decreased 30% since the 1980s.”A lot of our animals, they are so important to our ecosystem,” senior animal caretaker Lisbeth Pisias said.The day is planned on the longest day of the year to represent the animal’s long and tall necks.”World Giraffe Day is to bring attention to the fact that these guys are going through what we’re calling a silent extinction,” Pisias said.Depending on the species, giraffes in the wild are either endangered or critically endangered. That’s why the Oklahoma City Zoo participates in a program called the Species Survival Plan.”This is us breeding animals based off genetics, so we are here to conserve and preserve the species,” Pisias said. Just a few weeks ago, the zoo’s 20-year-old giraffe, Ellie, had her eighth calf. And now, they’re waiting on Julu to have her first.The zoo worked with a conservation organization in Africa a few years ago to learn more about the animal’s behavior.”The zoo actually sent me to that area to work with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation,” Pisias said. “Seeing kind of how they eat, how they rest, what they’re doing. We come back and then try to recreate that even more for them.”That’s why the giraffe caretakers feed them trees, to give them the natural diet they would get in the wild.
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Oklahoma City Zoo participates in World Giraffe Day each year as part of a world conservation effort to protect the species.
Experts estimate the giraffe population has decreased 30% since the 1980s.
“A lot of our animals, they are so important to our ecosystem,” senior animal caretaker Lisbeth Pisias said.
The day is planned on the longest day of the year to represent the animal’s long and tall necks.
“World Giraffe Day is to bring attention to the fact that these guys are going through what we’re calling a silent extinction,” Pisias said.
Depending on the species, giraffes in the wild are either endangered or critically endangered. That’s why the Oklahoma City Zoo participates in a program called the Species Survival Plan.
“This is us breeding animals based off genetics, so we are here to conserve and preserve the species,” Pisias said.
Just a few weeks ago, the zoo’s 20-year-old giraffe, Ellie, had her eighth calf. And now, they’re waiting on Julu to have her first.
The zoo worked with a conservation organization in Africa a few years ago to learn more about the animal’s behavior.
“The zoo actually sent me to that area to work with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation,” Pisias said. “Seeing kind of how they eat, how they rest, what they’re doing. We come back and then try to recreate that even more for them.”
That’s why the giraffe caretakers feed them trees, to give them the natural diet they would get in the wild.
