Eddie the giraffe arrives to the NEW Zoo from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, October 11, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — There’s a new resident of the NEW Zoo.
After being delayed, a new giraffe took his first steps at his new home at the NEW Zoo Wednesday.
Eddie the giraffe was supposed to arrive at the NEW Zoo from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison Tuesday but had some trouble getting into the travel trailer.
On Wednesday morning, the zoo confirmed Eddie was on a trailer and on his way to the Green Bay area. He arrived at the NEW Zoo in Suamico Wednesday afternoon.
Zoo director Carmen Murach says Eddie easily came off the trailer and is adjusting well.
“This introductions with animals, you never know what it’s going to be, they’re herd animals so you expect them to get along fairly well but individual animals behave differently but we’re thrilled to see that he has made friends with Zuri instantly, so that’s a really good sign he seems to be adjusting really well,” she said.
Murach adds it will be up to Eddie to determine when he is ready to be in public view but based on today’s positive observations, she says it may be sooner rather than later.
Compared to Zuri and Nigel, Eddie is a larger giraffe and is 14 years old.
“This is the one thing that’s really nice about being a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we all work together to do everything that we can to make sure we’re providing the best possible welfare for these animals, to make sure their lives are really good and Eddie was in Madison, he has been on his own, he needed some giraffe friends, they do best in herds, they are looking at a new exhibit coming up but it’s going to take a little bit so we all talked together and decided that it would be really good for Eddie to be able to come here where we’ve just built a whole new addition to our giraffe barn so we have lots of room,” Murach said.
It is not known how long Eddie will stay at the NEW Zoo. There is a chance Murach says that Eddie could go back to the Henry Vilas Zoo when its new exhibit is ready but if Eddie makes strong bonds with Zuri and Nigel, he could stay at the NEW Zoo. Ultimately it will be up to Eddie where he wants to live and where he will be most comfortable, Murach says.
Comments