Mysuru: Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly called as Mysuru Zoo, celebrated the longest-necked animal day (World Giraffe Day) on the longest day of the year today.

The Day is meant to raise support, create awareness and provide a deeper understanding of the challenges that these animals face in the wild.

As part of the celebrations, the Zoo authorities have displayed an attractive Information Board and Fun Facts Board in front of the Giraffe enclosure for the visitors to understand more about this animal.

Information such as the food of Giraffe, its lifespan, height, habitat, gestation period, daily lifestyle, quantity of food it consumes per day etc., have been put up for the visitors.

Zoo Education Officer S. Sindhuja was seen explaining about the animal to the visitors and also answered their questions. Giraffe Keeper Issac too was seen explaining to the tourists.

Mysuru Zoo houses seven Giraffes including the female calf of Kushi, which was born on May 26 this year and named as Trishika. A female Giraffe was gifted by Mysuru Zoo to Bannerghatta Biological Park.

According to Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), there are only around one lakh giraffes left in the wild, meaning they are approaching high-risk status. In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, giraffes have recently had their listed status changed to ‘Vulnerable to extinction’ —their numbers in Africa have dropped hugely by around 40 percent in just the last three decades alone. Specifically, the Masai Giraffe has lost half of its numbers in the last 30 years and now only around 32,000 are remaining in Tanzania and Southern Kenya which is attributed to the increase of human settlements and the loss of habitat that goes along with it.

Zoo Authority of Karnataka Member-Secretary B.P. Ravi, In-charge Mysuru Zoo Executive Director and DCF (Wildlife) Siddaramappa Chalkapure and Zoo staff were present.