The first look into the face of a new breeding male giraffe, here still in its home Safaripark Beekse Bergen. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
He measures over five meters, but he is not a slob. He weighs 1,238 kilograms, but he boasts long legs and excellent condition. He belongs to a cautious species of animal, and yet he has blood taken from his jugular vein. And although he has been in the world for nine years, he has not yet had the opportunity to reproduce. This is a new breeding male Nubian giraffe, who arrived at Prague Zoo from the Dutch Safaripark Beekse Bergen. Eight-year-old Finn is becoming a pillar of the future of Prague breeding. People can see him now.
“The arrival of the male is the result of several years of effort and, at the same time, the continuation of the rejuvenation process of our giraffe herd,” says Barbora Dobiášová, curator of ungulates. Due to several deaths of individuals at a ripe old age and the subsequent pause in reproduction, the number of giraffes in the African House fell to a historic low of just six animals in 2023. “The birth of Johanka in the summer of 2024, the arrival of the young female Niara from Leipzig this March, and finally the current arrival of the male Finn are planned steps to restore a stable breeding herd,” Dobiášová summarizes.
Chief ungulate breeder Aleš Doležal (pictured left) went to the Netherlands to see Finn in person. Here he documents the important progress of his veterinary training so that he could continue it in Prague. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
Finding a suitably old and genetically compatible male of the Nubian subspecies of the northern giraffe was not an easy task. The already demanding movements of giraffes, for which it is necessary to use the tallest transport trailers, were delayed by bluetongue disease. Veterinary measures responding to its spread in Western and Central Europe complicate or even make impossible the transport of even-toed ungulates between the member states of the European Union, which also applies to giraffes.
A male giraffe loaded into a special transport vehicle. We would like to thank our colleagues from Safari Park Dvůr Králové for the transport, who have extensive experience in transporting the tallest animals on the planet. Photo Arianne Van Den Boogaard
The coordinator of the European Breeding Program (EEP) finally recommended a male from the largest zoo in the Netherlands, Safaripark Beekse Bergen, on the outskirts of Tilburg. Finn was born there on March 19, 2018. His mother, also a Dutch native named Theluji, is the largest of all the nearly twenty females there. This was also reflected in her son, as Finn was also the largest male when he left.
After weaning, Finn lived in a male herd; this will be his first opportunity to breed at Prague Zoo. “He has a reputation for being a calm and gentle animal, which he confirmed immediately upon arrival. He is very kind to all the females and also to us, the breeders,” says Aleš Doležal, the head breeder of ungulates. According to him, it is clear that the male lived in a cosmopolitan enclosure with other species of animals. “He seems curious and, despite the typical conservative nature of giraffes, he doesn’t seem to mind any movement and nothing will upset him,” he adds, adding that Finn is already mated with eight Prague females and the breeders are looking forward to his first heat.
Here Finn is already getting to know his new roommates in the African Savannah at Prague Zoo. However, the two female Grévy’s zebras probably had more important things to do at the time the photo was taken. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
Whether Finn will take on the role of breeding male as successfully as his predecessor will only be revealed in the future. The bar is really high: The previous male Johan lived at Prague Zoo for more than 18 years. During that time, he fathered 30 cubs and thus became the most reproductively successful male giraffe in the history of Prague Zoo. At the time of his death, he was also the oldest male in the European studbook at 23 years, 7 months and 6 days.
Nubian giraffes (formerly known as Rothschild giraffes) have been bred at the Prague Zoo since the 1970s. This subspecies of the northern giraffe is currently listed as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Finn’s height of over five meters stands out in comparison to other giraffes. Especially with young females, which are shorter. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
A herd of nine giraffes can be seen in the Prague Zoo’s vast African Savanna enclosure, along with zebras, oryx and ostriches. Every day at 11 a.m. (weather permitting), there is also a guided tour on the observation deck. The giraffes can also be seen outside after 5 p.m., when the zoo entrance fee is just 100 CZK, until the end of August.
Females Johanka and Niara show interest in Finn. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo