Keepers at Taronga Western Plains Zoo have farewelled female Giraffe, Mzungu who is headed for the National Zoo in Canberra today.

Mzungu, a female Giraffe born in 2011 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, is headed to Canberra as the new breeding female for the National Zoo.

“Transporting a Giraffe anywhere is a major logistical operation and one that the team at Taronga Western Plains Zoo has undertaken on numerous occasions,” said Supervisor, Pascale Benoit.

“There is a lot of planning that takes place prior to the transportation of an animal to ensure everything goes to plan, from the loading here in Dubbo to the unloading at Canberra.” 

“Over the past few months Mzungu has been conditioned to stand in a transport crate comfortably for her journey,” said Pascale.

A keeper from the National Zoo will accompany Mzungu on the journey, stopping at regular intervals to ensure that she is travelling well throughout the trip.

“We expect Mzungu to be quite inquisitive whilst on the road and will be able to look around via an opening at the back of the transport crate.”

“The Zoo’s successful breeding program means that we are able to transfer Giraffe to other Zoos in Australia and even overseas in order to ensure greater genetic diversity in zoo based populations,” said Pascale.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo now has nine Giraffe in the breeding herd and four males on the African Savannah.