Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

June 18, 2010 - Jacksonville, Fl -

Duke the giraffe is the winner of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ “Wild About Dads” on-line contest at jacksonville.com. Duke beat out Gunner the mandrill, Mabruki the bonobo and Clifford the yellow billed stork. Duke will be rewarded for his win with extra special enrichment in his exhibit on Father’s Day. And, as a special treat for dads and other guests, the Zoo is offering a Buy One, Get One FREE offer on their Web site, jacksonvillezoo.org.

Duke, the 13-year-old patriarch of the giraffe herd, has sired a total of five offspring since he arrived at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in April 2003.  His two latest offspring are Twiga, born to Zawadi in July 2009, and most recently a male calf birthed by Naomi, on May 30, 2010.  Twiga was recently transferred to Como Park and Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The new male calf was released into the Giraffe Overlook exhibit today; however, since Duke cannot be on exhibit with him until he gets a little older, mom and calf will be in holding for Duke’s Father’s Day enrichment celebration this Sunday.  The calf will be named by the winner of a public contest that will be announced by Jacksonville Zoo in the near future. 

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  The AZA’s Giraffe Population Management Plan works with member organizations to facilitate the preservation of this species in captivity.  This will probably result in a recommendation to transfer the new calf to another AZA Zoo once he is old enough to leave his natal herd. 

For more than 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95. The Zoo is open until 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.                                                       

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