World Giraffe Day
In our continued celebration of National Zoo and Aquarium Month, we couldn't bear to keep quiet about World Giraffe Day, which is recognized on June 21. While certainly one of the most popular zoo animals today, giraffes have captivated humans for thousands of years. Not only is this significant in terms of longevity, but also in terms of what it reveals contextually. Of course, the giraffe as an entertainment spectacle is no modern invention. They were held in royal menageries across Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, serving as a symbol of wealth and power. Though surely the case sometimes, this golden aura radiating from giraffes did more than boost egos. It helped build bridges between empires. With an appearance unlike any other animal, humans entangle giraffes in webs of mystery and possibility. We see much evidence of giraffes gifted between rulers leading up to and throughout the Age of Exploration. It would be irresponsible to ignore the controversy surrounding both the nature of the gift and the time, but that is a different conversation entirely. From one ruler to another, a giraffe marked the start of an alliance—one where the future was unknown, but the prospect of partnership was secured.
Giraffes have been in America since 1837 as part of traveling shows, but did not live here full-time until about 100 years later. Lofty and Patches arrived at the San Diego Zoo from Uganda in 1938. Traveling 52 days at sea, their journey was far from easy. Their ship sailed right into the Great New England Hurricane, the East Coast’s most destructive until Hurricane Sandy. The rhino on board did not make it, and the same fate nearly befell Patches. Her crate fell over and shattered to pieces. Thankfully, she made it out with nothing more than a bum ankle. Transporting these animals brought with it incredible risk, but the pair quickly proved themselves a worthy investment. Lofty and Patches led San Diego to a net profit (a first in the zoo’s history) the year of their arrival. They would continue to spark incredible awe and intrigue for nearly 30 years. Fast forward another century (almost), and it seems the giraffe's grip on our imagination is as strong as ever. However, next time you find yourself mesmerized, try moving past their mere physical presence and consider that these animals occupy significant space within global history and politics.
Lofty and Patches drive across America. https://www.readwatchgo.com/blog/read-west-with-giraffes
Sources:
“Attending the Giraffe” by Jody Berland
“West with Giraffes” by Karie Kirkpatrick