Racine Zoo Welcomes New Masai Giraffe Jabari, Says Goodbye to Bo

RACINE, WI — The Racine Zoo is welcoming their new Masai giraffe Jabari as they say goodbye to fan-favorite Bo.

In late October, the Racine Zoo participated in a giraffe swap with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, sending 13-year-old Bo to mate with three female giraffes in Cleveland in exchange for Jabari, a new 3-year-old companion for Mac. When the weather warms up this spring, the Racine Zoo plans to unveil Jabari to the public.

Beth Heidorn, Executive Director of the Racine Zoo said it was tough to say goodbye to Bo, "He was very personable, no matter who visited him, it was almost like you're hanging out with a good family friend," she said. "Yet we know in this business, we have to make sure people are stewards of the planet."

That meant sending Bo to mate with female giraffes Jhasmin, Jada, and Adia in Cleveland. Bo, Heidorn said, is the 14th most genetically viable Masai giraffe in the country - and an ideal mate to help perpetuate the species. Bo was officially recommended to Cleveland to breed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for giraffes.

Giraffes were officially listed as a vulnerable species in 2016, and current figures state that the current giraffe population globally is estimated to be less than 80,000. Their numbers are declining across Africa - the population has decreased by nearly 40 percent in the last 15 years.

To get Mac a new companion, the Racine Zoo's curator worked with Cleveland's curator to arrange for Jabari - who is 12-feet-tall, 1,030 pounds and only 3 years old - to come to Racine. In a twist of fate, Jabari is not only Mac's companion but a family member as well. Jabari is Mac's nephew.

On an unseasonably warm Thursday, Oct. 26, Bo, all 17-feet-tall of him, was loaded onto a specially-designed giraffe transport bound for Cleveland. The double-decker and double-stall trailer stands 13-and-a-half feet high and bears a vague resemblance in shape to its contents. Bo walked in, craned his neck forward, and rode the six-and-a-half-hour trip to Cleveland in his padded trailer. The next day, Jabari was transported straight through to Racine.

When Jabari came to Racine, Heidorn said he was walked off the trailer, and within 30 seconds knew where he needed to be. Lorie Wynn, primary giraffe keeper at the Racine Zoo said that Jabari is getting used to his new surroundings, and has taken to dietary staples grain and romaine lettuce in his first months.

One of Jabari's first visitors was another Jabari - Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks. At 6-foot-8, Parker was dwarfed by his herbivore counterpart. Heidorn said Parker "knew a lot about animals and had a real interest in meeting Jabari."

Bo easily becomes Cleveland's tallest giraffe. "The keepers in Cleveland were in awe of his size and of his calmness," Wynn said.

In the end, it came down to what humans can do to help another living being. "Bo was so near and dear to our heart," Heidorn said. "we agreed with it for the good of the species."
Images Via Scott Anderson/Patch

Images Via Racine County Zoo

Video Via Cleveland Metroparks Zoo