The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park and the NEW Zoological Society are excited to host our annual World Giraffe Day celebration on Friday, June 21^st, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Proceeds from the event will directly support giraffe conservation efforts in Africa. This event is free with regular zoo admission.

A variety of fun, “giraffe-tastic” activities will be available throughout the day, including kids’ games and crafts, face and arm painting, temporary tattoos, a coloring contest, and more. Guests can meet resident giraffes Zuri and Eddie at the outdoor Giraffe Feeding Experience, which will be open for the duration of the event, and also say hello to Nigel the giraffe while participating in behind-the-scenes tours of the Giraffe Discovery Center and Lodge. Tours will take place every 15 minutes throughout the day, with a break only for the Giraffe Keeper Chat which will start at 11:30 a.m.

Be sure to check out the popular Giraffe Merchandise Sales Tent, which will feature a variety of giraffe-themed crafts and gifts for sale, including paintings done by our very own giraffes! All sales from the merchandise tent and Giraffe Feeding Experience, as well as sales from the Mayan Restaurant’s slushies and other select item, will be donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to help save giraffes.

Overall giraffe numbers in the wild have dropped by nearly 30% in recent decades, with some areas experiencing close to a 95% decline in populations. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) is considered the leading organization for giraffe conservation in the world, using international collaboration and science-based, innovative approaches to conservation efforts. The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park and the NEW Zoological Society are proud to support GCF through both education-based and fundraising efforts.