Giraffes at Monarto Zoo South Australia
Giraffe at Monarto Zoo South Australia
Giraffes always fascinate me. Partly because of their enormous height and partly because of the way they move. As for their height, males can grow to over 5 metres and the view from up there must be quite amazing. Of course it is very handy for grazing on the foliage of trees. At Monarto Zoo in South Australia where I took this series of photos earlier this year, any existing trees in their enclosure have been well and truly trimmed. The keepers try to simulate their natural environment by tying branches at the top of a tall pole (see below). Much easier for the giraffes than stretching down to the ground to eat the grass. With such a long neck, reaching the ground would be a decidedly difficult thing to do.
While visitors to the zoo do not often see the giraffes at full gallop, they can be remarkably agile over short distances considering their great size. Usually I have just observed them gracefully walking, again remarkable considering their size and weight; they weigh over a tonne (1,100 kg). The giraffe breeding programme at Monarto has been very successful over the years and the zoo now boasts the largest herd in Australasia.
Monarto Zoo is one of the largest open range zoos in the world and is a ten minute drive from my home in Murray Bridge. The area was designated many decades ago as a satellite city to our state capital, Adelaide, but plans fell through before any building could commence. The zoo is a part of the world renowned Adelaide Zoo.
Further reading:
- Find out more about giraffes from the zoo web site here
- Monarto Zoo
- Adelaide Zoo
Giraffes feeding at Monarto Zoo South Australia
Monarto Zoo South Australia
Monarto Zoo South Australia
A room with a view at Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Giraffes at Taronga Zoo, Sydney
I guess most people enjoy seeing giraffes in zoos or in the wild. I know I do because they are something special in the animal kingdom. I suppose the attraction comes from their extremely long necks. The view from up there must be interesting.
The giraffes at Taronga Zoo in Sydney have another advantage. Not only are they able to easily look over the large crowds of people, but they also have a magnificent view of the harbour, the CBD and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Most people would envy the view from their place.
Giraffes at Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffe at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
The giraffe herd at Monarto Zoo here in South Australia is quite large. They have bred successfully over recent years and now number well over twenty. I took these photos on a recent visit and I love the shot above. One of the giraffes came up close to the shuttle bus and posed for me, looking straight at the camera on cue. I zoomed in and just captured its head.
Monarto Zoo near Murray Bridge is the largest open range zoo of its type in the world. It is about 45 minutes’ drive from the Adelaide city centre and is a part of Zoos South Australia.
Further reading:
- Giraffes – information about giraffes
- Monarto Zoo – web page of the zoo
- Adelaide Zoo – web page of the zoo
- ZooChat Forums – information about nearly 1000 zoos around the world.
- Archived articles – more articles I’ve written about zoos I have visited
The last 2 photos show a giraffe drinking. To do this they have to splay out their front legs in quite an ungainly manner. It is at this point that giraffes are most vulnerable and can easily be taken by animals like lions. The animal nearby is a Blackbuck.
Giraffe at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffe at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffe at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffe at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Our local zoo is just a few kilometres down the road from our home in Murray Bridge. Monarto Zoo is a part of the Adelaide Zoo here in South Australia. We try to get to both of them several times a year, seeing they are so close. They are also world class zoos incorporating both the latest techniques in displaying the animals and in the conservation of endangered species.
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia