Celebrate the world’s tallest mammal with the OKC Zoo on World Giraffe Day. Family-friendly activities, caretaker chats, animal enrichment, photo opportunities and more.
In celebration of World Giraffe Day 2022, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Bob Moore Subaru are coming together to make giant steps for the world’s gentle giants. This globally recognized day provides a unique opportunity to learn about, raise awareness for and conserve giraffes and their natural habitat. This year, World Giraffe Day is dedicated to Bringing Giraffe Back to Mozambique. Civil unrest in Mozambique has driven giraffes to near extinction with an estimated 250 giraffes left in the country.
World Giraffe Day activities will be held at the Zoo’s giraffe habitat on Tuesday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about our tower of giraffes, meet with giraffe caretakers, participate in kids’ activities for prizes, observe animal enrichment activities, enjoy photo opportunities and more all sponsored by Bob Moore Subaru. World Giraffe Day activities are free with paid Zoo admission.
In addition to celebrating World Giraffe Day, the Zoo is supporting Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) with funds raised through the Zoo’s Round Up for Conservation program. Funds will go to support two GCF programs, a Wildlife Veterinarian Course and additional program.
GCF’s Wildlife Veterinarian course is aimed at enhancing the capacity of African veterinarians who care for giraffes. In partnership with the University of Namibia School for Veterinary Science, GCF is providing an opportunity for nine wildlife vets from six different African countries the opportunity to learn more about wildlife veterinary medicine. Students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia will be participating in the current course started in May 2022.
The other GCF program is dedicated to aiding researchers and students to generate scientific data that can assist with giraffe conservation and management. By encouraging students to contribute scientific research data from African universities, GCF is helping to implement several unique giraffe conservation strategies and action plans. GCF is working with seven universities throughout East Africa that have expressed interest and begun developing conservation research programs led by students. With support from the Round Up for Conservation Fund at the OKC Zoo, we are helping support the cost of tuition and assisting with field and equipment costs for applicants to the program.
WORLD GIRAFFE DAY FACTS
1. A giraffe’s heart weighs about 25 pounds and is the size of a basketball.
2. Giraffes have the highest blood pressure of any animal.
3. Giraffes are ruminants, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach, like a cow.
4. The giraffe uses its 18-inch prehensile tongue to remove leaves from thorny trees.
5. The tongue is a dark purple color, which prevents sunburn.
6. Giraffe horns are called ossicones, which are made of cartilage.
7. Giraffes are ungulates, meaning they have hooves and walk on their toes.
8. Giraffes have seven cervical (neck vertebrae), same as humans
9. Giraffes have 32 teeth, same as humans; eight incisors and 24 molars.
10. The okapi is the giraffe’s closest living relative.
World Giraffe Day doesn’t stop after our celebration! Head to Eileen’s Colossal Cookies to help positively impact giraffe conservation. Through Thursday, June 30, for every frosted giraffe cookie purchased from Eileen’s, $.50/per cookie will be donated to the OKC Zoo in support of conserving giraffes and their habitat. Cookies will be available to purchase individually or in trays of 6 cookies. Customers that purchase a tray of 6 will be entered to win an OKC Zoo Giraffe Feeding Experience good for four people plus Zoo admission, with one drawing at each of the two participating locations, Edmond (1333 N. Santa Fe, Edmond) and Nichols Hills (7700 N. May Ave, OKC) locations. Fancy yourself an artist? Head to Pinot’s Palette in Norman on Tuesday, June 21st at 7 p.m. and paint a Serengeti Sunrise featuring giraffes! For each registration, $10 will be donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
Head to the OKC Zoo to meet our tower of giraffes at the giraffe habitat near the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital. The OKC Zoo is home to male giraffes Demetri and Kioni and females Ellie, Julu, Mashamba and Njeri. The Zoo is also home to the giraffe’s closest relative, the okapi, including male Bosomi and pregnant female Kayin.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. Connect to wildlife and tons of fun as you experience the all new BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise at the OKC Zoo. Sponsored by Devon, BRICKLIVE features 45+ life-sized animal statues made with almost two million toy bricks! BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. now through October 30, 2022. Purchase advance tickets for general Zoo admission and BRICKLIVE at www.okczoo.org/tickets. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org