Dying Zoo Keeper Receives Goodbye Kisses from Giraffes He Cared 25-Years For

Having spent his entire working life at the Rotterdam’s Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo, 54-year-old Mario just had one final request as he battled cancer. He wanted to see his friends one last time. With the help of the Ambulance Wish Foundation, Mario’s wish came true.

Mario had committed 25 years to care for these majestic creatures, and now entered the zoo for the last time. After entering the giraffe enclosure, it only took a few minutes for the giraffes to recognize the man who had faithfully tended to them for years. 

To read more on this story, click here: Dying Zoo Keeper Receives Goodbye Kisses from Giraffes He Cared 25-Years For



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Giraffes Have Been Added To The Endangered Species List

Two subspecies of giraffe have been listed as 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Numbers for the mammal have declined by 40 per cent over the last 31 years due to humans encroaching their habitat.

In an IUCN report the giraffe has been moved from the list of 'Least Concern' to 'Vulnerable' in their Red List of Threatened Species.

Two specific subspecies, the Kordofan and Nubian, have been added to the list of 'critically endangered'.

According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Kordofan giraffe is mainly found in southern Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and western South Sudan with just 2,000 of the species existing.

Nubian giraffes, mainly found in west central Kenya, South Sudan, western Ethiopia and northern Uganda, and there are 2,645 left.

To read more on this story, click here: Giraffes Have Been Added To The Endangered Species List

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This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For

After Tristan Burns and Luke Karshagen said their vows on Saturday, their photographer suggested they take their wedding party to a nearby picturesque park for great lighting and a beautiful backdrop.

That much is typical for any wedding photo scenario. But this couple got an extra scenic addition to their shoot at Areena Riverside Resort near East London, South Africa: a curious giraffe named Abby.

“Areena always has wildlife roaming around, but I really wasn’t expecting Abby to pop his head among the trees,” Burns tells Yahoo. “Honestly, I was a little worried at first. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, nor did I know the nature of Abby. He just popped his head out of the trees. He must have heard us and just came waltzing into our party.”

Photographer Stephanie Norman has shot at Areena before, but this was the first time her subjects had ever been photobombed by a giraffe. While the wedding party was all rather startled by the enormous creature — even in South Africa, this is rather unusual — he soon put them at ease.

To read more on this story, click here: This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For

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Blackpool Zoo Tries To Dissuade Man From Buying A Pet Giraffe

An exasperated customer service assistant from Blackpool Zoo found themselves having to dissuade man from purchasing a giraffe for Christmas.

Calling himself ‘Chudders’, the man emailed the zoo with the query: "Is it possible to buy and own a giraffe in Scotland? I’ve been after a giraffe for years now and I want to make it a reality now”.

His children, he said, had their heart set on a hamster – but that he would much prefer a giraffe.

He was sure to emphasise that he had “a decent sized back garden” and “an upstairs/downstairs house so it could be fed from the bedroom window without any hassle”.

To read more on this story, click here: Blackpool Zoo Tries To Dissuade Man From Buying A Pet Giraffe

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Nabisco Animal Crackers Boxes Got A Makeover And Now The Animals Are Roaming Free

Nabisco's parent company redesigned Barnum's Animal Crackers boxes to show the animals roaming free — and not in cages — after pressure from PETA.

These cookie critters are tasting freedom.

After spending 116 years behind bars, the majestic beasts on boxes of Nabisco Barnum’s Animals Crackers are no longer being depicted in lock-up.

Nabisco’s parent company, Mondelez International, redesigned the snack's packaging in response to pressure by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA, which has denounced using animals in circuses, wrote a letter to Mondelez in the spring of 2016 calling for a redesign, according to AP.

“Given the egregious cruelty inherent in circuses that use animals and the public’s swelling opposition to the exploitation of animals used for entertainment,” PETA wrote to the food giant, “we urge Nabisco to update its packaging in order to show animals who are free to roam in their natural habitats.”

Mondelez agreed and started working on a makeover.

Rebooted cookie boxes, which declare “new look, same great taste,” are on U.S. store shelves now.

The new boxes have the same lettering and color scheme, but a zebra, elephant, lion, giraffe and gorilla wander side-by-side outside, instead of being confined in circus boxcars.

To read more on this story, click here: Nabisco Animal Crackers Boxes Got A Makeover And Now The Animals Are Roaming Free

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April the Giraffe Cleared for Pregnancy, But Some People Aren't Happy

Binghampton, N.Y. — April the giraffe, whose calf's recent birth attracted worldwide fame, has been cleared for another pregnancy — but not everyone's happy about it.

Last week, Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, N.Y., announced the news to its fans on Facebook, along with a photo of April and Oliver, parents to the park's calf, Tajiri.

Since it was posted Thursday, it has generated more than 53,000 reactions on Facebook and has been shared more than 9,000 times, as of Monday morning. However, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA and a vocal critic of animal mistreatment, responded negatively to the news.

In a statement, Brittany Peett, PETA Foundation director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement, accused the park of having "wrung every dollar and video hit that it could out of this giraffe's pregnancy," and called on the park to "prioritize animal welfare over fleeting online fame and end its shameful giraffe-breeding program."

When reached, park owner Jordan Patch was quick to dispute the accusations and emphasized the "tangible change" that the live stream, with its accompanying educational platform, has made in the world of giraffe conservation.

To read more on this story, click here: April the Giraffe Cleared for Pregnancy, But Some People Aren't Happy

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Researchers Recently Caught a Glimpse of a White Giraffe in the Tanzania's Tarangire National Park

Researchers recently caught a glimpse of a white giraffe named Omo in the Tanzania's Tarangire National Park.

Wild Nature Institute researchers first spotted the unusual giraffe when she was a calf during a population survey in 2015, according to a statement from the organization.

“A local lodge guide christened her Omo, after a popular brand of detergent here,” the organization, which conducts scientific research, said in a blog post.

While Omo may appear to be an albino, she is actually leucistic, according to the organization.

“One way to tell the difference between albino and leucistic animals is that albino individuals lack melanin everywhere, including in the eyes, so the resulting eye color is red from the underlying blood vessels,” the organization said.

While researchers were pleased to see that Omo survived her first year, she has a long road ahead, according to ecologist and Wild Nature Institute founder Derek Lee, the Telegraph reported.

“She survived her first year as a small calf, which is the most dangerous time for a young giraffe due to lion, leopard and hyena preying on them,” Lee told the Telegraph.

Lee said Omo's chances for reaching adulthood are good, but she may be at heightened risk of poaching because of her unique coloring, the Telegraph reported.

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Amazing Photographs of a Male Giraffe Who Has Survived in the Wild for the Past Five Years Despite Suffering a Broken Neck

These are the amazing photographs of a male giraffe who has survived in the wild for the past five years despite suffering a broken neck in a fight with a rival over a female mate.

The animal was spotted in the Serengeti national park by wildlife photographer Mark Drysdale who was on safari.

The guide told stunned visitors that the animal suffered the horrific injuries while fighting with another male to impress nearby female giraffes.

Normally, animals with such extensive injuries in the wild die due to the absence of medical treatment, or are eaten by predators.

But, this giraffe has thrived despite its wonky, zig-zag neck. 

The Masai giraffe is the tallest animal in the world and can grow to some 19 feet.

Mr. Drysdale, who has been photographing animals professionally for the past eight years said: 'I have never seen anything like it!

"But the other animals treated it as if it were completely normal and the giraffe seemed to be quite happy."

In giraffe fights, the animals stand side-by-side and push each other to prove who is the strongest and invariably wins the affection of the female. 

Mr Drysdale continued: "While I was guiding clients in the Serengeti we were introduced to this giraffe by one of the local guides, who has known the animal for five years.

The animal had broken its neck while fighting five to six years earlier and had remained in the area - where there are no conservation centers or vets. -

I found it strange, and it was the first time I had seen such a deformity but he seemed to be in good health.

.Although males generally take food from higher up trees than females by stretching to their full length, this guy was unable to do that.

He just ate at the lower levels where there was more than enough food available!"

The Masai giraffe, pictured, broke his neck about five years ago in a fight with a fellow male giraffe.

Male giraffes often fight with each other in order to win the affections of nearby females.

The giraffe, was no longer able to get food from the highest tree branches due to his deformity.

He has thrived over the past five years despite suffering its life-changing injury in Tanzania.

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Normally giraffes suffering similar injuries in the wild die soon afterwards, or are eaten by lions.

But the wonky giraffe, pictured rear, seems to live quite happily in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

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Turning Tables, Chile Zoo Rescues Animals, Cages Visitors

Rancagua (Chile) (AFP) - As the enormous lion prowls atop the roof of the safari vehicle, his pale pink tongue licking out from his massive jaws, delighted passengers snap pictures and reach out to touch him.

This apparent violation of the number-one rule at most zoos -- don't pet the animals -- is encouraged at Parque Safari in Chile, a sanctuary for mistreated circus animals that turns the traditional zoo-going experience on its head.

To read more on this story, click here: Turning Tables, Chile Zoo Rescues Animals, Cages Visitors

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