Giraffe makes its trans-Canada journey to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

A four-year-old giraffe named Amani has recently joined the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.

Announced on Monday, Amani, a young Masai giraffe, will now share her new home with two other giraffes—14-year-old Nabo and his nine-year-old daughter, Moshi.

Amani was transferred from the Toronto Zoo as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding program, which aims to support the endangered species' long-term conservation.

“We’ve been planning this move for some time, and we’re so excited to officially welcome Amani to her new home in Calgary,” said Colleen Baird, Director of Animal Care, Health & Welfare at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.

“Amani’s arrival is a significant boost for our tower’s well-being and plays a vital role in the SSP for Masai giraffes. Our commitment to animal welfare, well-being, and species conservation is at the core of everything we do.

“We’re hoping for a tall tale of romance between her and Nabo as a successful breeding pair!”

Transporting Amani from Toronto to Calgary required several months of preparation. She traveled in a specially designed trailer, with scheduled stops for rest, welfare checks, and extra feedings to ensure a safe and efficient journey.

When a mechanical issue arose during the trip, the team found a WestJet Cargo hangar where Amani could stay warm until the problem was resolved.

Amani will now go through a 10 to 30-day quarantine, with access to an outdoor yard, under the watch of the zoo’s Animal Care, Health & Welfare team. After this period, she will be introduced to the rest of the “tower”—the term for a group of giraffes.

In the spring of 2023, the zoo experienced the loss of 12-year-old Masai giraffe Emara, who died after one of her horns became entangled in a cable surrounding her enclosure. She tragically fell and suffered a broken neck, resulting in an almost immediate death.

The zoo described Emara’s passing as a tragic accident.