Azizi the Giraffe Celebrates First Birthday at Adelaide Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: January 17, 2022 12:01 am

Azizi the giraffe is pictured at Adelaide Zoo during his birthday celebrations

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Adelaide Zoo have celebrated the first birthday of their giraffe, Azizi. The birthday boy enjoyed a party attended by zoo guests which included a special keeper talk followed by a rendition of happy birthday.

To round out the celebrations Azizi received a birthday balloon themed enrichment item filled with carrots, lucerne, celery and giraffe pellets.

His neighbors, the meerkat colony also enjoyed a treat with a large caterpillar enrichment item.

Azizi the giraffe enjoys an enrichment treat at Adelaide Zoo

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Azizi, Swahili for beloved, precious one, treasure and valuable, arrived at Adelaide Zoo when he was just a few days old. He had a rough start to life with mother Scarlett not providing enough nutrition after his birth.

After it was determined that Scarlett would not successfully raise the calf her calf was taken to be hand-reared.

“Azizi is a goofball and he is obsessed with Nolean, he loves her so much. He has been by her side since he arrived. A decision was made to move him to Adelaide Zoo where he could live alongside, 2-year-old half-sister Nolean and 17-year-old Kimya.

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Keeper Jemma Cleere said, “Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us today! Azizi had a beautiful time and was very spoilt with lots of snacks and love from all the visitors and keepers here at Adelaide Zoo.”

To celebrate his birthday Adelaide Zoo are launching giraffe cameos. A number of zoo residents are already Cameo stars including giant tortoises, meerkats, goats and koalas.

Zoos SA support giraffe conservation in the wild through the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). The GCF is committed to a sustainable future for all giraffe populations and our support has helped to purchase GPS satellite tracking units that provide a better understanding of wild giraffes’ spatial movements and habitat use.

Learn more about Giraffe here – Giraffe Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Adelaide Zoo on their website – Adelaide Zoo