Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Bottle-fed giraffe calf rejoins the herd at Monarto Safari Park

Bottle-fed giraffe calf Kamili has rejoined the herd at Monarto Safari Park and she did so with a real spring in her long and lanky step!

The playful eight-week-old giraffe, who shot to fame after a video of her playing with her shadow went viral, was born on the 7th May. Kamili has been bottle-fed by keepers after her mum showed no interest in feeding her. Little Kamili, whose name means ‘perfect’ in Swahili, was gently coaxed out of the night yards, where she has received round the clock care, from keeper Vaughan Wilson.

“She’s lived up to her name and been such a perfect calf so far,” said Vaughan.

“Giraffe are cautious and she was hesitant to come out of the yard at first, however, with some gentle encouraging she started to follow me out into the exhibit.

“I expected “Aunty” Asali to be the first over to greet Kamili and sure enough she came over and gave her some seriously sloppy licks. Asali has never been a mum herself but has always played an active aunty type role in looking after calves.”

“Kamili then got up close with the other giraffe and showed off her playful side by running and taking sharp turns. When she was tired Kamili sat down and Asali stood by her side as if to protect her. Everything looks really positive,” finished Vaughan.

Kamili will take bottle feeds from the back of the Ute while in the exhibit and back in her night yard. The first feed on exhibit went well with Kamili drinking all her milk while fending off adoring licks from Asali.

From today Kamili will be on exhibit at Monarto Safari Park and is sure to be a drawcard for families over the upcoming school holidays.

Visitors to Monarto Safari Park are asked to book in advance and to follow all guidance regarding COVID safety. Zoos SA’s sites operate under COVID Management Plans.

Zoos SA is long-term supporter of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and donates money through its Giraffe Safari and feed experiences across both sites. Zoos SA has helped the GCF to purchase GPS satellite-tracking units called Twiga Trackers that provide a better understanding of wild giraffe’ spatial movements and habitat use and therefore inform effective conservation and planning.

The giraffe is classified by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being vulnerable to extinction with the population decline referred to as The Silent Extinction. The Silent Extinction refers to the general misconception that the species is not under threat whereas sadly there are thought to be only 68,000 giraffe left in the wild.

To find out more about Zoos SA’s conservation work and the projects that we support in Australia and worldwide head to: www.zoossa.com.au/conservation

 

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging.

We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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