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