It’s not every day Mogo has cargo as precious as this delivered.
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After three days crossing the Tasman Sea and a night-long journey down the South Coast, Mtundu the 15-month-old giraffe has arrived at his new home, Mogo Zoo.
Auckland Zoo bid farewell to Mtundu on Tuesday afternoon, when the 500kg male giraffe began his journey to Sydney.
Mtundu, which means ‘mischievous’ in Swahili, was escorted through Batemans Bay at about 8.30am on Saturday, February 25, before his arrival at the zoo shortly after.
A crowd of animal and human spectators watched as Mtundu was lifted by crane off a truck into a quarantine enclosure.
The curious bull was quick to make himself at home in the enclosure, pulling leaves off a nearby tree for a breakfast treat.
Clive Brookbanks of Mogo Zoo said Mtundu’s relocation to Mogo Zoo would form part of a regional breeding program.
“Giraffes, like many animals in zoos, are managed as part of breeding programs to act as an insurance policy for the future,” Mr Brookbanks said.
“As part of the giraffe breeding program, it is hoped that young Mtundu will like the female giraffes currently living at Mogo Zoo and go on to breed and have youngsters of his own.
“The journey has been long, with many months in the planning, as the young bull has travelled from New Zealand to land in Sydney after three days at sea.
He said the Mogo Zoo team had eagerly awaited the new arrival.
“The team at Mogo Zoo are all very excited to welcome young Mtundu to the collection and introduce him to his new ladies,” Mr Brookbanks said.
Mtundu will spend 30 days in quarantine before he is introduced to the other giraffes.