18 April 2011
Ajali headed for Werribee

Lucky motorists may glimpse a rare sight on the highways between Perth and Melbourne this week when a young giraffe embarks on an interstate road trip.

Eleven-month old Ajali will depart Perth Zoo headed for Werribee Open Range Zoo on Monday 18 April. The 4,000 kilometre journey across the Nullabor is expected to take more than 50 hours to complete.

Ajali, meaning destiny in Swahili, is a Rothschild giraffe, the most endangered giraffe subspecies with only a few hundred found in Kenya and Uganda.

The giraffe transport has required months of planning and preparation. Ajali has been undergoing "trailer training" which has familiarized him with the type of trailer he will be travelling inside.

A veterinary team are monitoring his progress throughout the journey. The team are  conducting several brief roadside health checks at which local residents are welcome to observe. 

On arrival at Werribee Open Range Zoo, Ajali will undergo a brief quarantine period before joining five other giraffe in the zoo's large open savannah where mixed herds of rhinos, zebras and antelope roam.