Giraffes are sometimes referred to as the ‘gentle giants of the African Savannah’. They are well known for their graceful walk and peaceful demeanor. However, as I have learned over the first few days that I have been assisting in the translocation of 22 giraffes across in Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP), giraffes are extremely powerful and strong-willed animals, while simultaneously sensitive and fragile. When planning to capture and translocate a giraffe, every second during the capture process counts and the veterinaries and the recording teams need to work very fast to collect their data so as to get the giraffe back on its feet as quickly as possible and comfortable in its’ new surroundings. As one could imagine, it is a very foreign experience for a giraffe to be restrained and animals are prone to agitation and frustration powerfully kicking out. Thus, as a scientist you have to be aware of your surroundings. Of course, animal behavior is highly variable and some animals respond differently to others. As an example, yesterday we darted a young male giraffe in the morning and during the capture, he did not kick out even once. While on the ground and blindfolded, he used his prehensile tongue to grab a few blades of grass and ate while we were busy collecting data on him. Dr. Liza Dadone, a veterinary from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo who was assisting the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) vets, confirmed that his vital signs were the best of any giraffe we have captured to date. Further, this giraffe was also the easiest to offload from the cart once we arrived at the boma. To recover from the stress of capture, we allow the giraffes to rest for two days in a boma before translocation to the southern part of MFNP. This male walked straight into the boma, joined the other giraffes, and started feeding. He seemed social, comfortable, content – as if he was accustomed to the experience. That was the point at which Dr. Julian Fennessy of Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) recognized the giraffe. Last year, Julian was studying giraffe skin disease in MFNP and discovered a very remarkable looking giraffe. The young male had an oddly protruding jaw with an asymmetrical structure that might indicate a healed wound or a genetic abnormality. Malady or not, one thing was clear: this was a very cute and charismatic male that bore a striking resemblance to Melman, the giraffe from the Madagascar films voiced by David Schiwmmer. Among a population of giraffe in MFNP that hover right around 1,000 what are the odds that UWA and GCF would capture Melman! And yet here he was walking about the boma making friends with the other giraffes and talking to them about his concerns of hypertension and whether or not giraffes can contract lupus.
Melman inside the boma on the day of his capture.
Because of his distinctive looks, Melman became an instant favorite of everyone in camp. Identifying individual giraffes is usually difficult and requires one to learn spot pattern recognition since each giraffe has a unique coat. However, Melman could readily be identified from a distance. Melman became the talk of all of the researchers and everyone was excited that he was part of the first cohort of giraffes to be successfully translocated to the southern part of MFNP.
The day of the transfer dawned clear and bright, but tension was in the air. We were all a bit nervous and hopeful that Melman and the other giraffes would make the trip without incident. Fortunately, luck shined upon us. All giraffes were easily located into the transfer truck. The journey from there would be arduous. It would take 30 km to get to the ferry and then an additional 40 km from the ferry to reach the release site. Melman was by far the most curious giraffe of the group. He walked a circuit in the truck trying to see every part of MFNP from an unprecedented angle, towering above the savannah in a slow moving truck. I couldn’t help but notice that Melman annoyed the other giraffes with his eagerness. He just seemed so keen to make the most out of his experience. It was great to see his curiosity but we worried all the while as 24 giraffe legs in one cart can easily get tangled up causing one or the other of them to fall down. This did happen at one point as a giraffe stumbled and fell. The truck immediately stopped to check on the condition of the giraffe. The stillness allowed the animal to recover its position without injury. No one was certain whether Melman was involved in the fall in any way, but we did notice that he was the first to check in with the fallen giraffe. Perhaps he was apologizing. If you have watched Madagascar, you can imagine what an apology of this type would have sounded like.
The day of the transfer dawned clear and bright, but tension was in the air. We were all a bit nervous and hopeful that Melman and the other giraffes would make the trip without incident. Fortunately, luck shined upon us. All giraffes were easily located into the transfer truck. The journey from there would be arduous. It would take 30 km to get to the ferry and then an additional 40 km from the ferry to reach the release site. Melman was by far the most curious giraffe of the group. He walked a circuit in the truck trying to see every part of MFNP from an unprecedented angle, towering above the savannah in a slow moving truck. I couldn’t help but notice that Melman annoyed the other giraffes with his eagerness. He just seemed so keen to make the most out of his experience. It was great to see his curiosity but we worried all the while as 24 giraffe legs in one cart can easily get tangled up causing one or the other of them to fall down. This did happen at one point as a giraffe stumbled and fell. The truck immediately stopped to check on the condition of the giraffe. The stillness allowed the animal to recover its position without injury. No one was certain whether Melman was involved in the fall in any way, but we did notice that he was the first to check in with the fallen giraffe. Perhaps he was apologizing. If you have watched Madagascar, you can imagine what an apology of this type would have sounded like.
Melman and the other giraffes getting on the ferry to cross the Nile. Photo from Liza Dadone.
As we pulled up to the River Nile, the look on Melman’s face was positively priceless. Many of the giraffes seemed perturbed to be riding onto a car ferry. Melman, on the other hand, seemed enthralled! He moved from side to side, he looked straight down gazing into the crocodile and hippo-infested waters, he cuddled into the other giraffes like an excited child preparing to go on an amusement park ride. Melman made the crossing like a champ and I believe, in his own way calmed the other giraffes. How could you be fearful of the water was a young kid was this excited! The rest of the trip was made without incidence and we arrived in good time at the release site.
At the release site, UWA rangers cleared the area and we prepared the truck for unloading. At first, the giraffes stood stock still. A large female was first at the opening of the door. She would decide when the group would move. Melman was tucked away in the back excitedely pushing the others forward. We knew that at least one giraffe was very ready for this new adventure in some foreign land. After a couple of minutes of disbelief that there was nothing blocking their way, the female lurched forward dashing off in a sprint. She was quickly followed by the 5 additional giraffe, including Melman, who all set off in single file, as if they were part of a long distance running event. We anticipate that the new population will steadily grow and increase the range of these endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Their new home would be far away from human activities such as tourists vehicles, oil exploration, and poachers snares.
At the release site, UWA rangers cleared the area and we prepared the truck for unloading. At first, the giraffes stood stock still. A large female was first at the opening of the door. She would decide when the group would move. Melman was tucked away in the back excitedely pushing the others forward. We knew that at least one giraffe was very ready for this new adventure in some foreign land. After a couple of minutes of disbelief that there was nothing blocking their way, the female lurched forward dashing off in a sprint. She was quickly followed by the 5 additional giraffe, including Melman, who all set off in single file, as if they were part of a long distance running event. We anticipate that the new population will steadily grow and increase the range of these endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Their new home would be far away from human activities such as tourists vehicles, oil exploration, and poachers snares.
Melman and the other giraffes running off into their new home at the release site. Photo from Liza Dadone.
Once the initial jubilation of a successful release wore off sentimentality set in. I wondered whether I would ever see Melman again. I wondered what would become of him. I wondered whether he would become a father or remain a single hypochondriac. I sincerely hope to see him again.
My fellow lab mate Tutilo and our advisor Dr. Bob Montgomery were involved in Melman’s translocation and all shared these same feelings that this was a very special giraffe. To celebrate the day we all decided to go, along with UWA Rangers Robert and Samson, to visit the majestic Murchison Falls. In this way we were following the advice of the Park Warden of MFNP (Tom Okello) who told us, “You haven’t been to Murchison unless you have been to the top of the falls!” I guess I really have been to the falls as this particular trip was my second, but I still needed to fall Tom Okello's advice and get myself to the top. The first time I was lucky enough to visit the falls with Liza as well as Tom and Kathy Leiden from the Leiden Conservation Foundation. After the release of Melman and the other five giraffes, I saw the falls from a completely different perspective. This time we hiked around to the top of the falls and the views were simply breathtaking. Everyone should seek the Warden’s advice. This is a spectacular and transformative place. As Tom Okello says, one has to visit the top of the falls. Who knows, perhaps Melman will decide that he needs an adventure at some point in future and make his way up here. I certainly wouldn’t put it past him.
My fellow lab mate Tutilo and our advisor Dr. Bob Montgomery were involved in Melman’s translocation and all shared these same feelings that this was a very special giraffe. To celebrate the day we all decided to go, along with UWA Rangers Robert and Samson, to visit the majestic Murchison Falls. In this way we were following the advice of the Park Warden of MFNP (Tom Okello) who told us, “You haven’t been to Murchison unless you have been to the top of the falls!” I guess I really have been to the falls as this particular trip was my second, but I still needed to fall Tom Okello's advice and get myself to the top. The first time I was lucky enough to visit the falls with Liza as well as Tom and Kathy Leiden from the Leiden Conservation Foundation. After the release of Melman and the other five giraffes, I saw the falls from a completely different perspective. This time we hiked around to the top of the falls and the views were simply breathtaking. Everyone should seek the Warden’s advice. This is a spectacular and transformative place. As Tom Okello says, one has to visit the top of the falls. Who knows, perhaps Melman will decide that he needs an adventure at some point in future and make his way up here. I certainly wouldn’t put it past him.
View from the top of Murchison Falls.
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