Three giraffes have arrived at the Lahore Zoo from South Africa on Friday, which were bought at a total cost of Rs 7.4 million. A zoo spokesman said that November 2 was a historic day for the zoo because after a period of 13 years, the Southern Trio Giraffe - one male and two females each one-year-old and 9.5 feet height - have been brought from South Africa.
Since 1995 the Giraffe House has been empty until today which will now be occupied by the three long-necked mammals. The old giraffe house was renovated, food buckets were placed on considerable height and two new water tanks were made for drinking purposes.
Since 1996 the zoo administration had tried 10 times to procure these animals but due to certain reason it was not happening. "They have been brought for conservation, education and recreational purposes. By this the number of visitors would surge in Lahore Zoo. This is a precious and amazing gift for the visitors of the Lahore Zoo. Lahore Zoo is the only zoo in Pakistan to have giraffes at the moment," the spokesperson said.
The giraffes belong to group mammalian and its nine subspecies are roaming throughout Africa. The giraffes are 15 to 19 feet high and 550 to 1,800 kg in weight, this variation in size and weight is because of availability of space and food. The giraffes eat around 75 kg of leaves, young shoots and pods daily. Their 11-kg heart could pump 75 litre of blood per minute. They live up to 26 years in their natural wildlife habitat but 32 to 40 years in captivity. They give birth to single child after 465 days. There are up to 110,000 giraffes found in Africa, illegal hunting and lost of habitat is becoming a threat to its population.