Giraffe from War-Torn Ukraine Finds New Home in Richter Safari Park
Arseniy, the bull giraffe, who arrived in Hungary from war-torn Ukraine at the dawn of World Animal Day, has found a new home, reports Index.
Richter Safari Park in Nagykőrös (central Hungary) welcomed the animal after more than 4 months of preparation. Arseniy had been living his daily life in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, but the city was the target of Russian missile attacks in July after the collapse of the Russian-Ukrainian grain deal. Therefore, the local zoo decided to quickly find a new home for its beloved resident.
Organizing the trip presented a logistical challenge for the Hungarians, as an adult Rothschild’s giraffe, at nearly 4.5 meters tall, requires special transport and constant medical supervision.
Photo via Facebook/Safari Park Richter
“We waited with bated breath for the arrival of Arseniy, the Rothschild’s giraffe bull. The Ukrainian partner contacted us back in May and asked to adopt the animal. We set the necessary procedures in motion without a second thought, but traveling such an exotic animal requires months of preparation and a lot of administration. After almost 4 months, we arrived in the early hours of the morning from the border in Záhony to Nagykőrös. After his arrival, the animal undergoes a veterinary examination and a general health check and will then start his acclimatization with Namibi, another bull giraffe from the Richter Safari Park,” said Ifj. József Richter, founder and owner of the park.
Arseniy and Namibi, the other giraffe bull from the park. Photo via Facebook/Safari Park Richter
Fact
In March 2022, the first rescued animal from Ukraine arrived in Hungary. A family fleeing from Kiev left a little white-headed marmoset at the Záhony border post, asking Nyíregyháza Zoo in northeastern Hungary to take it in. Kátya, the little female monkey, was first quarantined and then examined by a vet.
In addition, in 2022, the Association of Hungarian Zoos have joined the initiative of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria to launch an international fundraising campaign for Ukrainian zoos in need.
Via Index, Featured image via Facebook/Safari Park Richter
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