I’m not sure when I first realized that the giraffe is my favorite animal. Was it as a child thumbing through a picture book of animals or when taking my three young sons to explore the Bronx Zoo? Was it at one of my many visits to zoos in the various cities and countries I’ve had the privilege of visiting, always seeking out “the serene grace and ethereal beauty” of these stately animals? Or was it on my first safari in Kenya in 1985 when “out of nowhere” a giant giraffe appeared on the dusty road ahead?

The souvenir we chose from that amazing trip was a signed, beautifully hand carved 6 ft wooden sculpture of a reticulated giraffe. It has had an interesting life having first traveled by ship to NY and then trucked to Florida 10 years ago where he proudly resides in my current home.

Knowing my love of giraffes, my granddaughter gifted me with her hand painted portrait of a giraffe’s face, its sweet soul evident through its eyes.

Recently I watched a movie called “Giraffada”, recalling a true story of a male giraffe killed in an air raid in the Middle East and the subsequent solution by a father and son to bring a new partner for the surviving female.

If you like giraffes as much as I do i recommend this educational and touching movie. In addition, i encourage you to read the novel, WEST WITH GIRAFFES, also based on true events of two giraffes who after having survived the 1938 hurricane at sea were successfully transported across the US to the San Diego Zoo. In addition, the author successfully explores the evolving relationship between a teen and the giraffes.

The author, Lynda Rutledge, writes on page 79, “ Animals are complete all on their own living by voices we don’t get to hear, having a knowledge far beyond our paltry ken and giraffes, they seem to know something more.”

I’m thankful for giraffes.

-Harriet