By KHT Staff. AI illustration image based on Taipei Zoo giraffes.
KAOHSIUNG — A Kaohsiung city councilor has said one of Mayor Chen Chi-mai’s (陳其邁) biggest unfinished goals is the long-delayed effort to bring giraffes to Shoushan Zoo (壽山動物園).
KMT Councilor Lee Ya-ching (李雅靜) said residents have been asking for giraffes at the zoo for more than 20 years.
Lee said Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng (康裕成) first raised the idea 21 years ago, when Chen was acting mayor. Chen said at the time that the city would explore ways to make it happen, Lee said.
During a general policy question session in May, Lee asked the mayor about the issue, and Chen acknowledged that failing to bring giraffes to Shoushan Zoo during his term was one of his biggest regrets, Lee said.
Lee recently visited Leofoo Village Wildlife Park (六福村野生動物園) with Tourism Bureau Director-General Kao Min-lin (高閔琳) and Shoushan Zoo staff to examine facilities used to care for giraffes.
The group discussed basic requirements for giraffe care and possible reference points for Shoushan Zoo.
Shoushan Zoo, at present, lacks the basic conditions needed to keep giraffes. Local media cited issues such as strict animal introduction and care requirements, a high threshold for giraffe husbandry, and a limited number of bloodlines of giraffes in Taiwan as among the challenges that would need to be overcome.
Leofoo Village General Manager Yeh Chung-yue (葉忠岳) said last year that Taiwan currently has giraffes at Leofoo Village, Taipei Zoo, and Wanpi World Safari Zoo.
Yeh said the Taiwan Association of Zoos and Aquariums could try to help arrange for one giraffe to be loaned to Shoushan Zoo in the future, but the zoo’s site and facilities would first need to be carefully evaluated by experts.
Lee said the city should continue preparing so the long-discussed plan can eventually move forward.
