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Summary for: Athens-bound: Two young Olomouc giraffes make a 40-hour journey to GreeceTwo young Rothschild’s giraffes from Olomouc Zoo have arrived at Attica Zoological Park in Athens after a 40-hour journey, including rest stops, the Czech zoo announced Oct. 9.
Both males were born in 2024 and will join an all-male group at the Greek park’s safari exhibit. Their departure reflects how zoos manage growing giraffe herds: keeping several mature males alongside females can lead to fights.
Two passengers, one trailer
Moving two giraffes together was unusual for the zoo, which generally transports one animal at a time.
An experienced specialist company handled the journey. Both giraffes had water available throughout the trip, with branches to browse on when needed, Veselá said.
Bachelor groups provide a home for males that are not currently part of breeding herds. According to Veselá, they are one way to accommodate several young males as they mature.
Olomouc-born giraffes, particularly males, generally move to another zoo by age 2. Such transfers are a routine part of international breeding programs, helping prevent inbreeding and establish new groups.
European breeding coordinators decide where animals should be placed, taking the genetic diversity of zoo populations into account. The moves also reflect the tendency of young males to leave their birth groups as they grow older.
Half a century of giraffes in Olomouc
Olomouc Zoo has kept giraffes since 1976, making this year the 50th anniversary of its breeding program.
An August announcement on the zoo’s website records the birth of its 76th Rothschild’s giraffe calf. That newborn was also male.
The zoo identifies habitat loss, mining, oil extraction, poaching and armed conflict as threats to giraffes in the wild.
In Olomouc, their diet includes alfalfa hay, fresh branches, specially formulated pellets and vegetables. Nettles are also on the menu. Their long tongues help them grasp vegetation and strip leaves from branches.
The zoo, located on Svatý Kopeček outside Olomouc, welcomed approximately 379,000 visitors last year. The two departing males will now be seen by visitors in Athens as they settle into their new group.
