Our eccentric giraffe is continuing his rewilding journey in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Current age
9 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
19 September 2015
Rescue location
Meru Region, Meru National Park
Date of birth (estimate)
13 September 2015
Reason orphaned
Unknown
Age at rescue
0 weeks old (approx)
Current location
Other
He was flown to the Nairobi Nursery by Sky Vet, sparing him what would have been a gruelling and very hot seven to eight hour journey by road and being the first time our Keepers had been involved in the rescue of an orphaned giraffe, they were fully briefed about the necessity to ensure the giraffe’s head remained upright at all times throughout the flight.
On this occasion the usual elephant-rescue tarpaulin had to be modified into a make-shift cradle and throughout the entire procedure the little giraffe was seemingly totally resigned to whatever lay in store for him.
In March 2020, Kiko graduated from the Nairobi Nursery, moving to Sirikoi in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. This move allowed Kiko to join another hand-raised reticulated giraffe, and to be closer to wild members of his own species, as his journey back to a fully wild life continues.
He was flown to the Nairobi Nursery by Sky Vet, sparing him what would have been a gruelling and very hot seven to eight hour journey by road and being the first time our Keepers had been involved in the rescue of an orphaned giraffe, they were fully briefed about the necessity to ensure the giraffe’s head remained upright at all times throughout the flight.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Seven years ago, an orphaned giraffe was found on the border of Meru National Park. He was tiny — a week old, at most — and stood no taller than the rangers who rescued him. The fate of his mother remains unknown, but given the location, he is likely a victim of human-wildlife conflict. On the rescue flight that ferried him down to Nairobi, he sat swaddled in a ball of blankets with just his neck and head poking out, his big, brown eyes quietly taking everything in.