At the Riga Zoo, giraffe guy Kimi has greeted his girlfriend from Austria / Article

The giraffe Vakilija, who was born in Austria at the Schmiding Zoo, has arrived at the Giraffe House of the Riga Zoo and will compile a company for the giraffe guy Kimi, who informed the zoo spokesman Māris Lielkalns.

Vacilija will be able to celebrate her two-year birthday on August 9 alongside giraffe boy Kimi, who celebrated his fourteenth birthday on July 24.

Vakilija was transported in a well-equipped, four-meter-high trailer specially designed for the transportation of giraffes, constantly following its behavior in video surveillance cameras, using the professional experience of the specialized animal transport company “Crossborder Animal Services”.

Riga Zoo contacted colleagues from Schmiding Zoo several months in advance. Along with photos of Vakilija’s childhood, she received a wealth of information about her behavior, character, training and, most importantly, an accurate giraffe menu so that she could be greeted by the usual meal and familiar delicacies in Riga, as well as professional care.

In nature, female giraffes become adults between the ages of three and four, but in captivity, maturity may occur a little earlier. However, given that wild giraffes are usually quite social and live together in groups of different structures, it is hoped that Kimi and Vakilija will soon come out for walks together in the large outdoor paddock.

The Giraffe House, built in 2007, is intended to house a breeding group of these animals (3-5 animals). Since the building was opened, a group of four male giraffes have lived in it, which has allowed the zoo staff to learn about the behavioral, feeding and veterinary characteristics of these rather difficult animals.

Currently, only Kimi remains of the males once brought to the Riga Zoo – the other two look from lifelong injuries.

There are nine subspecies of giraffes in Africa. Rothschild giraffes, which can be traced back to Uganda and Kenya, can be seen at the Riga Zoo. Both poaching and human activities are reducing the number of giraffes in the wild, and this species was included in the World Red Data Book in 1996. In order to coordinate and monitor the keeping and breeding of giraffes in captivity, a European program for the breeding of this endangered species was established in 1990, within the framework of which Vakilia was entrusted to the Riga Zoo.

Vakilija’s trip to Latvia:

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