On
a recent visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, Stefanie
had a chance to see some of the offspring of reticulated
giraffes originally captured in the 1980's from the Mt.
Kenya Game Ranch by Don Hunt and his capture unit. Stefanie
was along on part of that safari and helped by giving
some of the giraffes injections necessary after capture.
Of
the 27 originally captured, 21 were brought to Busch Gardens
to form the largest collection of reticulated giraffes
in the world. Once found all over Africa, they are now
limited to the dry savannah and open woodlands of Kenya
and Tanzania, but are not considered an endangered species.
The only protection they are afforded are in national
parks and captivity where they have successfully bred.
As
participants in the Species Survival Program, and part
of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Busch Gardens
provides the perfect environment for reticulated giraffes
to flourish.
