Tanzi the giraffe has travelled from Melbourne Zoo along the Hume Highway. Pictures: KEN IRWIN
Zoo keepers Sarah Wright and Curtis Prouting speak with veterinarian Sarah Frith. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
Tanzi settles in for the night at Marulan Truck Stop. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
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Tanzi in her crate at Melbourne Zoo.
Tanzi the giraffe is on her way to a family reunion at Mogo Zoo on the Far South Coast.
The pure Rothschild giraffe is the sister of Mogo's breeding giraffe, Shani, who has been at the Far South Coast zoo for six years.
"It is a family reunion, absolutely," said Mogo Zoo general manager John Appleby.
"The two sisters will be reunited after all this time."
Mr Appleby said the zoo had already established a successful breeding program for the Rothschild giraffe in recent years.
"We're part of Zoos and Aquariums Australia and we are involved in many of the key global breeding programs," Mr Appleby said.
"The pure Rothschild giraffes we have here at Mogo Zoo are quite viable in terms of their genetics. We've had two babies here now - Munzi transferred to Altina Wildlife Park near Griffith. We've got another little baby here now called Shaba and he'll be earmarked to go to another zoo next year.
"Bringing in this extra female will give us the ability to have two breeding females."
Tanzi left Melbourne Zoo yesterday morning and truck driver Stuart Baker said she had an easy trip to Marulan, where they stopped over last night before heading to Mogo this morning.
The truck carrying Tanzi will travel along Picton Road and then Mount Ousley Road. Because the truck and giraffe are too large to pass under the overpass at the university, they will travel to the intersection of Mount Ousley Road and the Princes Highway before turning right and heading to the F6.
Mr Baker said the truck was not allowed on Picton Road before 9am. He planned to get there as close to 9am as possible and expected to reach Wollongong about 9.30-9.45am.
A greater challenge awaits Tanzi at Nowra, where her truck will have to travel on the northbound bridge to cross the Shoalhaven River.
Mr Baker said Tanzi was in safe hands during her trip.
"There's a vet and two handlers following me in a car," he said.
"They're in radio contact with me at any time they want."
Mr Appleby said: "Once she gets here, we'll let her settle and familiarise herself with the surroundings and then she'll be introduced to our family here.
"We'll just leave her by herself for a while and let her settle. They will have the ability to interact through the fence."