By Ryan Firestine, Lead Animal Keeper
One of the most rewarding parts of being an animal keeper is watching the animals we care for grow, thrive, and sometimes — move on to make an even bigger impact. That’s exactly what’s happening with Mokolo, one of our beloved giraffes, who will soon be heading to Zoo Knoxville as part of an exciting conservation effort.
WHAT IS THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN?
You might have heard us mention something called the Species Survival Plan (SSP) before — it’s a program that plays a major role in how zoos help protect animals around the world. Think of it as a kind of Match.com for animals in accredited zoos.
The SSP is a large network of zoological professionals who continuously monitor animal populations in human care and make thoughtful breeding recommendations. Their goal is to maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations that can serve as a safety net for species facing threats in the wild.
MOKOLO’S JOURNEY AT ELMWOOD PARK ZOO
Mokolo came to Elmwood Park Zoo back in 2017, arriving as a spunky two-year-old from Roosevelt Park Zoo. At the time, he was so little that guests couldn’t even feed him comfortably from our giraffe deck — many kids had to reach under the railing just to hand him a piece of lettuce!
He joined us as part of an SSP recommendation to manage a small bachelor group here at the zoo. Giraffe herds are quite fluid in the wild — individuals often come and go — and bachelor groups like ours help replicate that natural social structure. Mokolo quickly bonded with his roommates, Dhoruba and Gerald, and he’s been part of our giraffe trio ever since.
He’s also known among keepers for his curious and playful side — whether it’s sneaking in for an extra snack or begging for a drink straight from the hose while we’re cleaning his bedroom. Those moments will certainly be missed.
WHY MOKOLO IS MOVING
Earlier this year, we received exciting news from the SSP giraffe coordinator: Mokolo had been identified as a genetically valuable individual and was recommended to pair with a female giraffe at Zoo Knoxville.
It’s bittersweet — saying goodbye is never easy, especially after so many years together. But as keepers, we know that this move represents something much bigger. Mokolo now has the chance to start his own family and help sustain a healthy, diverse giraffe population for generations to come.
LOOKING AHEAD
At Elmwood Park Zoo, our mission as an AZA-accredited facility is to care deeply not just for the animals that live here, but also for their wild counterparts. Every move like this — every breeding recommendation, every SSP decision — helps strengthen global conservation efforts and ensures the future of these incredible species.
We’ll miss Mokolo’s towering presence, his gentle personality, and his love for lettuce, but we couldn’t be more proud of him. We hope he brings joy to the guests and staff in Tennessee just like he has here in Pennsylvania — and who knows, maybe in a year or so, we’ll all be celebrating with Knoxville on the successful birth of a calf!
In the meantime, make sure to stop by the giraffe yard soon to wish Mokolo safe travels — and we’ll make sure he has plenty of lettuce for the road. And just between us — Savanna Station may be growing by one more set of spots in the near future!
