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Summary One of the tallest New Zealanders has arrived in Australia, completing a five-day voyage.
Jelani the giraffe was transported by ship, the JPO Scorpius, from Auckland Zoo, and arrived in Melbourne, Australia.He was transported inside a specially-made 4.2 metre (14 foot) high shipping crate which was large enough for him to sit down.To make the voyage easier, the 18-month-old male giraffe went through crate training prior to the journey.After he was unloaded from the ship onto the back of a truck, zoo keeper Nat Sullivan offered Jelani one last bite to eat before driving through city streets en route to the giraffes new home at Melbournes Werribee Open Range Zoo.Jelani could not resist sticking his neck out to see the sights of Melbourne along the way.Auckland Zoo officials had previously warned motorists that they may see a giraffe pop its head out from the truck in front. The truck transporting Jelani carried a sign reading You dont see sights like this every day.Jelani will be kept in quarantine for a few days before hes allowed to meet the other animals at the zoo.Once Jelani is introduced to the rest of the herd, you know, its going to be a great sight for people to come and see. He is a really playful giraffe, said Sullivan, the keeper from Auckland Zoo who has attended to Jelani since birth.Jelani has come to Australia to be part of a breeding programme at the zoo.He will join the zoos bachelor herd, and live among antelope, rhinoceroses and zebras.Auckland Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo are part of an Australasian regional breeding programme for giraffes.Giraffes are the tallest of all living animals. Jelani is 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) tall, and weighs about 500 kilograms (0.55 ton).
