Jabali the giraffe at 10 months old. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Zoo
Much time in our lives can be spent on trying to figuring out how to get from A to B - for Jabali the giraffe, that included creating a new and bespoke trailer.
Jabali was born nearly two years ago, the offspring of female Kiraka and male Billy, and was the tallest giraffe at birth Auckland zoo keepers could recall.
They believed he had inherited the tall genes of his grandfather.
"Transporting a giraffe is really tricky," said Auckland Zoo's deputy curator of mammals Amy Robbins.
She told Midday Report it was important to transport giraffes as early as possible, before they got too tall.
Jabali in the giraffe on the move to Hamilton Zoo. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Zoo
"Males can get in the excess of five metres, so that would be logistically impossible to drive a five metre giraffe down the road to Hamilton.
"We wanted to do it while Jabali was still a reasonable height."
The bespoke transport trailer has an extendable roof, could also be used for zebra, waterbuck, nyala and other ungulate species, and could take a total weight of 1850kg.
Robbins said Jabali was "incredible" during the journey.
"He was so calm, so relaxed, very chilled out, just took it all in his stride.
"I drove behind him the whole way and he just stood facing out the back ... there's a little area where he can see out the back ... and it didn't seem to bother him at all."
Robbins credited Jabali's keepers who spent a long time helping him to get used to the trailer.
Jabali the giraffe getting used to his trailer. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Zoo
"He's just a really lovely little giraffe as well."
She said once he got to Hamilton Zoo, he stayed in his trailer for about 40 minutes before he stepped out to explore his new home.
Jabali was joining a bachelor herd of giraffes at Hamilton Zoo and would continue to play a vital advocacy role for his species.
