Tuesday 21 June 2016

Stick Your Neck Out for Giraffes at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

With summer solstice just a few days away, June 18-19 is the longest weekend of the year and San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is celebrating by highlighting the animal with the longest neck! SF Zoo has a magnificent giraffe herd of seven individuals, including a new family! “Ingrid” was born April 8 to mom “Barbro” and dad “Floyd.” Speaking of dads, fathers receive complimentary admission to the Zoo on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19!

SF Zoo is inviting everyone to “stick their necks out for giraffes” this weekend. The special focus on giraffes is just days ahead of World Giraffe Day (June 21), which raises awareness about the challenges giraffe face in the wild and their dwindling population numbers. In the past 10 years, four out of five Reticulated giraffes have died in Africa because of human population migration, poaching for hides, meat and tail hairs, and hunting because of food insecurity. Since 1999, nearly 50% of wild giraffes have been lost to these factors, leaving just 80,000 individuals. Even though population statistics are rapidly declining, giraffes are still listed as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List.

Zoo guests are encouraged to spend extra time visiting the giraffe herd and attend one or all four of the special Keeper Talks, each with a unique theme. Kids will enjoy giraffe crafts and there’s a donation raffle with prizes! All proceeds benefit the Reticulated Giraffe Project.

Event Details

What: Giraffe Awareness Weekend\
Where: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, 1 Zoo Rd., San Francisco, CA 94132
When: Saturday, Sunday, June 18-19 *Dads complimentary admission June 19 ONLY
10:30 am – Keeper Talk all about “Floyd” the giraffe dad (North Overlook)
12:30 pm – Keeper Talk with giraffe training demonstration (Acacia Plaza)
2:30 pm – Keeper Talk with giraffe enrichment-making (Acacia Plaza)
4:30 pm – Keeper Talk about giraffe conservation (Giraffe Barn)


Contact: Rachel Eslick at 559-287-3990 or rachele@sfzoo.org
Website: www.sfzoo.org
Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/riZi73B1q4386ncg8
*Photo credit Marianne Hale for attached picture

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