A journey of 424 km from Mysuru to Kamalapura marked the successful relocation of Shankara, a two-and-a-half-year-old giraffe, from the century-old Mysuru zoo to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zoological Park. This relocation was sanctioned by the Central Zoo Authority and the Zoo Authority of Karnataka. Born on July 12, 2021, to Bharatha and Lakshmi, the 13.5-ft.-tall Shankara joined a female giraffe at his new home.
The transportation, which commenced at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday, concluded at 6 p.m. with the giraffe safely settling into the zoological park. The Hampi Zoo Executive Director Ravikumar, ZAK Veterinary Advisor K.V. Madan, veterinary officer Dr. Vani, along with animal keepers and staff, accompanied Shankara on this journey.
Acknowledging the support from the police for traffic management and CESC for handling overhead cables during the transportation, the zoo director expressed gratitude. The relocation of tall animals like giraffes poses significant challenges, and the collaborative efforts of various departments made it possible, he added.
Over the years, Mysuru zoo has contributed giraffes to other zoos, including Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru, Singapore Zoological Gardens, and Assam State zoo in Guwahati. The century-old zoo has established itself as a successful breeder of giraffes in captivity, with its breeding program receiving a boost in 2007 when a female giraffe, Kushi, was brought in from Lucknow zoo.
The zoo’s track record includes transporting a 12-foot tall male giraffe to Guwahati, covering a distance of about 3,200 km, showcasing their expertise in handling long-distance relocations. Giraffes are known to live up to 18 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity. The preparation for such journeys involves a six-month acclimatization process, during which giraffes get accustomed to tall crates and are trained for the upcoming travel.