Giraffe Fun Day at Kigongoni Primary School

On Saturday about 1000 children from Kigongoni Primary School in the Tarangire-Manyara region of Tanzania celebrated a Giraffe Fun Day, organized by Wild Nature Institute and PAMS Foundation. The kids had a great time reading the Juma the Giraffe storybook, and learning about what makes these mega-herbivores so special.

The children also sang songs about giraffes, made giraffe masks and used them in a performance of Juma, and played sports in the afternoon.

We joined the festivities with Jill Erzar, a visiting scientist and giraffe keeper from Como Park Zoo in Minnesota. Jill is working with Wild Nature Institute scientists Dr. Derek Lee and Monica Bond to quantify growth rates of giraffe calves (thanks to financial support from Como Friends).

Jill Erzar and Monica Bond enjoy Giraffe Fun Day with kids at Kigongoni Primary School.

It was heartwarming for us, as giraffe-loving visitors to this country, to see so many Tanzanian kids excited about the giraffes in their own backyards. We are happy to support giraffe-themed education programs in the schools around the national parks where giraffes live, so people and giraffes can thrive together in the years to come.

Thank you as always to all of the sponsors of our Celebrating Africa's Giants community education program for giraffes, elephants, and rhinoceroses.