Construction on the new Giraffe enclosure was completed in the summer of last year (2022), and after a period of adjustment for Giraffe, the move was successfully completed on September 23, 2022 (more details here).

The new Giraffe enclosure features an indoor exhibit space behind glass. After Giraffe moved in, training to gradually acclimate them to people's presence and voices began on November 7th, and full-scale viewing began on December 22nd.

At first, the giraffes would get startled just by seeing people through the glass, but after about a month, they started eating as soon as they returned indoors, and it seems Giraffe were gradually getting used to it.

Giraffe enclosure that was previously in use (hereinafter referred to as the "old Giraffe enclosure") had glass windows on the north side of the park (the viewing path from Lion Cafe to Chimpanzee enclosure), allowing visitors to observe Giraffe as they spent time inside after being admitted to the enclosure.

However, this window wasn't for display purposes; beyond it was a walkway for animal keeper, and Giraffe were in a sleeping area with a grid of netting at the back, making them somewhat difficult to see. Therefore, animal keeper had devised a way to place the food boxes in a position visible from the window so they could observe the giraffes eating up close.


Giraffe visible through the glass window of the old Giraffe enclosure.
(Date of photo: December 24, 2010)
On the other hand, the indoor exhibit space in the new Giraffe enclosure has no lattice partitions, but rather large, flat glass windows. This allows visitors to observe Giraffe, which are usually so tall that you have to look up to them, from a position higher than their heads.

Although we are now a little further away from Giraffe than before, we can now observe the herds spending time indoors at our leisure, without having to worry about the weather.


New Giraffe enclosure: Giraffe spending time indoors
(Date of photo: January 20, 2023)
When you look at Giraffe through the glass after they've returned indoors, you can see them bowing their heads as hard as they can towards you. There are boxes here for solid food such as pellets, with the top shelf for adults and the bottom shelf for children, so they can choose according to their height.

Also, you can see them skillfully using their long tongues to eat the branches and leaves of the Japanese evergreen oak attached to the fence on the right side of the door. When Giraffe return inside, they all start eating at once, so be sure to observe how they eat.


New Giraffe enclosure: Giraffes eating from boxes for adults and juveniles.
(Date of photo: January 20, 2023)
For a while, the Giraffe may be startled by human voices and movements, but we would appreciate it if you could quietly and warmly observe them until they get used to their surroundings. When they are not in the open enclosure, they are indoors, so please come and see Giraffe relaxing in their new home.

[Shiozawa, Animal Care and Exhibition Staff, Tama Zoo North Garden]

(February 10, 2023)