LOCAL NEWS
18-month-old Ja Raffe joins Utah’s Hogle Zoo
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Hogle Zoo has officially introduced its newest member — a one-and-a-half-year-old reticulated species giraffe named Ja Raffe.
“Standing at a petite 10 feet tall, Ja Raffe (JA-RAF) joins the Hogle Zoo herd from Memphis Zoo, where he received his name after Memphis Grizzlies star and 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year, Ja Morant,” a press release from Hogle Zoo stated Friday.
Bob Cisneros, associate director of Utah’s Hogle Zoo Animal Care, said Ja Raffe “was given a clean bill of health, completed a standard adjustment quarantine, and is successfully getting to know the rest of the herd and our guests.”
“Ja Raffe serves an important educational role as an ambassador for giraffes in the wild and showcases the important of protecting his magnificent species,” he added.
Officials said Ja Raffe will be a companion to female giraffes Stephanie and Minka, as well as zebras, warthogs, and Yellow — the ostrich — in the African Savannah.
“When he reaches maturity (about five to seven years old), Ja Raffe will be part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program (SSP) for responsible breeding,” the release stated.
