A 5-year-old giraffe from the Denver Zoo will temporarily move south to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs to support conservation efforts, zoo officials announced Friday.
Several of the female giraffes in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s herd have been recommended for potential breeding under the ‘ (AZA) Giraffe Species Survival Plan, but Khalid, the zoo’s 17-year-old breeding bull, died last month, .
Jasiri, a reticulated giraffe at the Denver Zoo, will spend a few months at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for those breeding efforts, according to the organization.
“ are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,” Denver zoo officials wrote on social media. “We’re proud to play a role in supporting this incredible species through collaborative conservation efforts like the (Species Survival Plan).”
Zoo officials did not specify how long Jasiri would stay at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, but said he is expected to return to Denver later this year.
Species Survival Plans aim to ensure “a genetically diverse, demographically varied, and biologically sound population” at accredited zoos, according to the AZA. Program officials monitor populations and carefully match animals across AZA-accredited zoos for breeding.
