Tulsa World: Neck and neck

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Neck and neck
Giraffe's new gal pal is one tall drink of water

The Tulsa Zoo's male giraffe, Samburu, checks out Amira, one of two new female giraffes at the zoo. Amira came from the Santa Barbara Zoo in California and is now on display in the giraffe exhibit. Stephen Pingry / Tulsa World

By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/25/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/25/2009 4:00 AM

The Tulsa Zoo's male giraffe, Samburu, is no longer the only animal on display in the giraffe exhibit.

Amira, a 9-year-old female giraffe who had been in quarantine for a month, is now out of the barn and in the smaller yard in the exhibit. All animals transported to the zoo are quarantined for about 30 days.

"Sometimes when we get a new animal, it takes them a while to get used to their surroundings," said Karen Dunn, a large-mammal curator at the zoo.

"It's a new barn, new smells, a new environment, new climate."

Amira was transported from the Santa Barbara Zoo in California and arrived in Tulsa on Oct. 8.

Even though she is 15 feet tall and weighs about 1,500 pounds, she is dwarfed by Samburu — or Sam, as zoo staff members call him — who towers over her at 18 1/2 feet tall.

Marla Stanford, who visited the zoo Tuesday with her child's kindergarten class, said she is delighted that Sam now has some company.

"The giraffes are our favorite," she said. "I'm glad to see more than one."

Amira and 5-year-old Amali, a female giraffe who came from the Wilds zoo near Cumberland, Ohio, were brought to Tulsa to breed with Sam.

Some nuzzling and sniffing has been noted, Dunn said, but Sam is being kept in a different yard from Amira so that any breeding is controlled.

Amali, who arrived Oct. 18, is still being kept in the giraffe barn while zookeepers and veterinarians monitor a neck injury that occurred during transport.

Staff members hope to be able to X-ray the 14-foot-tall Amali to determine whether the noticeable crick in the middle of her neck can be repaired.

The injured giraffe is eating, walking and interacting with the other giraffes normally and shows no sign of being in pain.

Tulsa Zoo Director Terrie Correll said, "We're taking this one day at a time."

Until a prognosis is reached and a course of action is planned, Amali likely will stay out of the public eye.

But Stanford hopes that she can go on display soon.

"I think it would be a positive thing," she said. Children "can see they can be different and it's OK."

The other giraffes don't mind Amali's injury. Dunn said the two females get along great when they are in the barn together.

In the next few months Amira and Sam will be put together to encourage breeding.

Of the 130 male reticulated giraffes in the United States, Sam is ranked seventh for breeding, based partly on genetics and previous success.

Amira is ranked about 100, and Amali is ranked about 130 of the 240 females in zoo populations.

"They were both highly recommended for breeding," Dunn said.

Neither has had a calf before.

The zoo also is raising money to build an elevated platform at the exhibit so the public can get closer to the giraffes and even feed them.

Angela Evans, the zoo's community relations manager, said: "The public will get to be eye to eye with the giraffes. We're looking at some grants and seeking sponsorships. We're looking at having that in place in 2010."

Sara Plummer 581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "New Tulsa Zoo giraffe now on display," which was published on 11/24/2009.

	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/24/2009 6:27:39 PM) Welcome to Tulsa, Amali! And you, too, Amira!
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/24/2009 6:30:15 PM) You can't see it in the picture shown but, Amali has a huge crook in it;s neck. It almost looks like it's broken. It's shaped like a s-curve.
	Report Comment Bill Lee, (11/24/2009 7:24:12 PM) Future World, the female giraffe shown in the photo above is Amira. She has a perfect neck. Amali is the injured female and she's neither in the photo, nor is she on display yet.
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/24/2009 7:52:56 PM) I'm sure he is happy to see another of his species especially female. :)
	Report Comment notyourfriend, (11/24/2009 8:58:58 PM) Elusive...thats what she is here for.
	Report Comment MnM, Tulsa (11/24/2009 9:47:48 PM) Yippee for Sam!! He was so sad when his best girl, Georgene died!! Hopefully, he will be lucky in love with these two lovely Ladies!!!!
	Report Comment Daven, Tulsa (11/25/2009 9:34:31 AM) I am waiting for the human exhibit. Cage a human up so people can come from all over and see this creature........Well, guess i could go visit a prison right? lol!
	Report Comment Cherwood, Kellyville (11/25/2009 4:02:06 PM) They keep saying they are "going" to x-ray Amali's neck and it's been several days now. WTH are they waiting for?
	Report Comment Bill Lee, (11/25/2009 11:43:50 PM) Cherwood, just because you didn't see it here or on tv doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Do you get a Tweet every time the giraffe farts or what??

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