If you’re on the roads in the early hours of Saturday, February 25, look out for a giraffe.
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Mtundu, a 15-month-old giraffe from Auckland Zoo has sailed to Sydney in recent days and will soon hit the Princes Highway on the way to his new home at Mogo Zoo.
The young giraffe will be heading down the highway at around 2am, with Endeavour Energy on site to lift powerlines for the ‘high load’ at Berry, Jaspers Brush, Bomaderry and Falls Creek.
If you’re an early bird and snap a photo of Mtundu on your travels, send it to nicolette.pickard@fairfaxmedia.com.au
A statement from Auckland zoo said Mtundu has now reached an age where he shouldn’t be living with his parents.
"This is a positive and important move for the regional breeding programme, but we’re naturally always sad to farewell our animals, and we’ll especially miss Mtundu, who was, dare I say, a favourite, and a great time waster,” Zat Sullivan, Auckland’s Zoo’s team leader said.
“He loved to play fight with his dad Zabulu, and was playmate for our new female Kabili, who was born on New Year’s Eve.”
Mtundu sailed aboard the container ship Hammonia Galicia for roughly three days before being taken to his new home.
On-board luggage for the 500 kilogram giraffe included medical supplies and plenty of food options – from lucerne and puka browse to pellets and a variety of fruit and vegetables.
The global giraffe population has plummeted by up to 40 per cent over the last 30 years, and the species has now been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
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