Kazi for Celebration

Dobby Gets a Pal as Denver Zoo Welcomes a 2-Year-Old Reticulated Giraffe to the Herd

Next time you’re at Denver Zoo, you’re likely to spot a particularly tall new addition: a 2-year-old male reticulated giraffe named Kazi (Kah-zee), who just arrived from Milwaukee County Zoo. Kazi will become the fourth giraffe in our herd and be a social companion for Dobby, who will turn 3 next February.

Kazi, named for the Swahili word for “labor,” was born just before Labor Day in 2017 at the Milwaukee County Zoo. His animal care team in Milwaukee describes him as a laid back, social animal who loves to engage with guests. We expect Dobby and Kazi to become fast friends and manage all sorts of mischief together in the giraffe habitat. You’ll be able to tell them apart because Kazi, at 10 feet, is more than a foot shorter than Dobby, and he has distinctive white spots inside of his brown ones.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists reticulated giraffes as endangered, and their numbers continue to decrease in the wild due to habitat loss, illegal hunting and increased human-wildlife conflict. Reticulated giraffes can be found in parts of Eastern Africa and on game reserves in South Africa.

Kazi is already settling into his new home and will soon be introduced to Dobby, Kipele, 26 and Heshimu, 17.  Be sure to come see Kazi and the rest of the herd on your next visit, and sign up for one of our Giraffe Feeding Encounters for an up-close and personal experience. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates as Kazi gets comfortable in his new home!