Oakland Zoo’s Newest Giraffe, Joann, Has Joined the Herd: Giraffe Takes First Steps Into Her New Habitat

Joann, Oakland Zoo’s newest two-year-old female giraffe resident, walked into her habitat for the first time after moving from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in April. Initially taking hesitant steps, she entered the habitat and quickly gained the confidence to explore her new space alongside the rest of her herd.

To help her acclimate to her new family, the giraffe team allowed her to explore her new habitat alongside her older female mentor giraffe, Maggie, the oldest female in Oakland’s herd at 14 years old. Joann spent her first few weeks in Oakland adjusting to her new home behind the scenes in the Zoo’s giraffe barns as she completed her quarantine period. During that time, she had close contact with Maggie, so she wasn’t alone.  Maggie served as a role model and guide for Joann, showing her the way in this new setting, and provided much-needed companionship during this new chapter.

When it was time to introduce Joann to the rest of the giraffe herd, Maggie confidently led her onto the habitat and guided her. Joann then met the entire herd, the Zoo’s young bull, and two other females. Giraffes are typically very welcoming to new herd members, and after a brief introduction where they smelled each other, the expanded herd began browsing and foraging together.    

“Joann is incredibly sweet and seeks out connections with the other giraffes and her new Animal Care Keepers.  She is very brave, and her curiosity grows every day.  We can’t wait to watch her grow here at Oakland Zoo!” Says Jessica Parke, Oakland Zoo Animal Care Keeper.

This move follows a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) to improve breeding success and animal welfare. Kendi, another two-year-old female giraffe at Oakland Zoo, now has a companion her age, an important part of supporting her overall wellbeing. Having a peer of the same age allows Kendi to grow up alongside another juvenile. In the wild, female giraffes often form strong social bonds, spending much of their lives together and developing friendships. They also often babysit and help raise one another’s calves. This partnership provides all the giraffes in Oakland Zoo’s herd with increased opportunities for natural behaviors such as play and more complex social relationships, mirroring those of a typical giraffe herd. It also gives females multiple “sisters” to help them raise their calves. With Joann’s arrival, the herd now includes three generations of females, forming a typical and healthy social group—an important step in promoting top-notch animal wellbeing.  

Joann comes from a decades-long lineage of giraffes rooted in the Bay Area, including those at Oakland Zoo. She and Maggie reside in the same family tree: Tiki, a beloved Oakland Zoo giraffe who has since passed, had five offspring during her time at the Oakland Zoo, including Dadisi, Joann’s grandmother, who moved as a juvenile from Oakland to Palm Desert as part of the AZA’s Species Survival Plan.  Tiki was Maggie’s grandmother and Joann’s great-grandmother. Some of Oakland’s Animal Care staff have had the great privilege of working with and learning from 5 generations of strong females in this amazing family tree.  This long line of Bay Area-born giraffes is a testament to the success of the giraffe program at Oakland Zoo and to its influence on sustainability across AZA's giraffe population, supporting the Species Survival Program.  This giraffe program has also been a leader in advancing the standard of care of this species, much of which was pioneered by Tiki and her Animal Care team.

Oakland Zoo guests can now see Joann alongside the rest of the giraffe herd at the Zoo African Savanna. The Zoo will also update the public on Joann’s journey on social media.