Orana Wildlife Park MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate Release

Park Staff Mourn the Loss of Harold the Giraffe

Orana Wildlife Park staff members are devastated by the sudden death of Harold, a 19-year-old male Giraffe, who died overnight.

Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says: “I have worked with Harold since he arrived here from Chicago in 1994. He was an absolutely iconic animal and his death is a major loss to the Park. It has come as a shock to us all as he was not an old animal.

He had a relatively easy-going manner for a bull and will be sadly missed. He was affectionately known by some of us as ‘Harry’. He was a true gentle giant of the Park; so many visitors will have had the joy of hand feeding him. He was managed separately over the past few years as he did have less patience as he matured, but he was an animal that commanded respect.

Harold sired nine offspring so made a fabulous contribution to the zoo-based breeding programme for his species. His legacy will live on as we currently have one pregnant female” adds Ian.

A post mortem will be conducted this afternoon.

Harold was known outside of the Park as being the ‘mascot’ of the Life Education Trust.

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About Orana Wildlife Park
Orana Wildlife Park is NZ’s only open range zoo and is home to over 400 animals from more than 70 different species. The Park is owned and operated by Orana Wildlife Trust, a registered charitable trust, which also runs Natureland Zoo in Nelson. The Trust also owned Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House (Cathedral Square) until February when it was closed indefinitely after a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch. The Trust is committed to the conservation of wildlife diversity on this planet. Our aims, along with being dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and the welfare of our animals, are to provide education, recreation and enjoyment to the public and to support research relating to endangered animals. The Trust is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) and ZAA NZ.

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