Family Park’s giraffe “moves” to Wakayama [25-year ago today]

 

Rintaro, a male reticulated giraffe from Toyama City Family Park, has moved to Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture.

 

Rintaro, about 3.5 meters long, was loaned out to the safari park in Wakayama for breeding purposes. With the help of 15 zoo attendants, the giraffe entered a special box with standing, and the box was then onto a truck.

Q. How do you move a giraffe?

According to the picture book written by Hirayama Teruhiko, “Moving Animals,” giraffes are placed in a tall, inverted L-shaped box with a window on the top. Then, the box is placed on a low-floor trailer or truck for transport with the giraffes standing.

 

The giraffes stand in a box facing backward to avoid falling or hitting their heads on the box when the vehicle starts or stops.

 

Before the move, the giraffes train to enter the box, and on the moving day, they are guided into the box and given a reward.

 

In Rintaro’s case, a newspaper said it took him about five minutes to enter the box. When the exit door closed, he was slightly excited but calmed down after eating a reward apple.

 

Now, no one has detailed records about him after moving.

 

Giraffes living in zoos can live for nearly 20 years. Consequently, Rintaro might have already lived out his natural lifespan.

参考
※ 北日本新聞
※ 平山暉彦〈どうぶつたちの おひっこし〉（福音館書店）