Fanana a tall transportation order for Interislander

Media release

Fanana a tall transportation order for Interislander

A nine month old male giraffe will set sail across the Cook Strait on Interislander’s Aratere tonight, bound for Chrictchurch’s Orana Wildlife Park. Interislander is assisting with the transportation of the giraffe, named Fanana, who has been flown from Sydney to Auckland before being driven down to Wellington by truck and placed on Aratere’s 10:30pm sailing to Picton.

Fanana will be Orana Wildlife Park’s future breeding bull as their lone male Harold died last year. “This transfer is essential for Orana’s role in the managed zoo-based breeding programme for the species,” says Orana Wildlife Park’s Public Relations Manager, Nathan Hawke.

Interislander’s General Manager, Thomas Davis, says he’s more than happy to be helping Orana Wildlife Park with the transportation of Fanana. “This is an exciting opportunity for us. It’s not everyday staff and passengers get to see a giraffe travelling on a ship, and it’s great to have the capacity to be able to offer our assistance.”

“Park staff and volunteers are very excited by the imminent arrival of Fanana. We wish to gratefully acknowledge Interislander for very kindly donating the transport costs and assisting us to transfer such precious cargo,” Mr Hawke says.

This is not the first time Interislander has transported wild or exotic animals. In December 2010, the Arahura played host to two lions who were being transferred from Orana Wildlife Park to Wellington Zoo.

Sydney’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo Keeper, Kevin Milton, and Orana’s Zoological Manager, Rob Hall, will be accompanying Fanana, who is travelling in a custom-built crate to account for his height, across the Cook Strait. Weeks of preparation has gone into organising Fanana’s transfer from Sydney to Auckland and then onto Christchurch, including training the giraffe to be in the crate without stress, organising trucks and transport assistance and liaising with the various organisations involved.

Fanana, who landed in Auckland this morning, has so far transported quite easily and comfortably. The crate, which enables Fanana to poke his head out and survey his surroundings, may catch the attention of eagle-eyed passengers on Interislander’s Aratere tonight. But those wanting to catch a glimpse of Fanana will have to be quick, as the latch through which Fanana pokes his head is closed during transit, with the team opening it only to check on him.

ENDS

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