A long time coming but new home for giraffes at Hamilton Zoo finally taking shape
Hamilton Zoo is constructing a large new giraffe barn to provide better facilities for its giraffes, Jabali and Kevin. The project, which faced significant delays, aims to improve animal care and allow for closer interaction between staff and the animals.
Why it matters
This development highlights the ongoing efforts of modern zoos to improve animal welfare and husbandry standards through specialized infrastructure.
It's a problem Hamilton Zoo has been trying to solve for years.
It has been a stretch, but a new giraffe barn at the zoo is finally taking shape, after hefty delays to the project that was originally approved in 2024.
The move in date for the zoo's tallest residents is expected to be before Christmas.
The new home for Jabali and Kevin is extra roomy, with space for future flatmates.
Hamilton Zoo's team leader of the ungulates Eddie Cheadle told Checkpoint the new barn was a sight to behold.
"It's very big - I think we should call it the Giraffe Manor."
The new building is the largest the zoo has ever had, standing as 32 metres long, 20 metres wide and two stories high.
To make it accessible for humans as well as its tall tenants, it will feature a mezzanine floor.
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