Alway’s fancied having you’re very own giraffe? Well, you can’t, that would be ridiculous. You can name one though.
Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort (AWPR) has announced the birth of a male giraffe and is launching a naming competition to celebrate his birth. This giraffe, also known as a Nubian Giraffe, is a threatened subspecies inhabiting Eastern Sudan and Northeast Congo.
Farshid Mehrdadfar, Manager of Animal Collections at AWPR said, “Nubian giraffes have suffered a major collapse in recent years due to habitat destruction, poaching and armed conflict in their native habitat. The Nubian giraffe is an uncommon subspecies of giraffe and AWPR’s collection is among the few represented in captivity. The calf is a very welcome and important addition to our family of giraffe’s and we look forward to finding him an equally special name.”
AWPR is home to more than 25 of this rare and endangered subspecies of giraffe. This birth reinforces AWPR’s continued efforts to ensure the conservation of the subspecies. AWPR is actively involved in several internationally co-ordinated conservation projects to conserve and reintroduce threatened arid land species. These include the Arabian oryx, Addax, Dama gazelle and the Scimitar-horned oryx.
The juvenile Nubian giraffe is currently on display at the mixed African exhibit, and AWPR has launched a competition to name the new giraffe calf. The winning entry, chosen by 20 June, will receive an exclusive giraffe feeding experience for themselves and five guests, as well as free entrance to the park, a picnic lunch, and a souvenir plush toy from the park’s gift shop. To enter the competition, visitors should collect a form from the ticketing counter at the park entrance or visit www.AWPR.ae. The competition will close on 17 June.
The best time to view the giraffe calf is during the evening feeding beginning at 6:15pm, when the animals are fed at the front of the exhibit near park guests. As the giraffes and other animals adjust to their summer routines, the park is open for Wild Nights from 4pm to 12 midnight and from 10am to 12midnight on Fridays.
