Two giraffes being ferried on a truck went viral on social media pages on Thursday, October 29, with most netizens wondering where the animals were headed.
According to a statement by the Kenya Wildlife Service, the giraffes were being translocated from Soysambu ranch to Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary in Solai Nakuru.
Motorists plying the Nakuru Section 58 intersection spotted the giraffes on transit during the morning hours.
The giraffes had their heads conspicuously sticking out from the top of the truck to their new home.
KWS indicated that the sanctuary currently had seven giraffes, ostriches, impalas and zebras.
In addition, the corporation stated the purpose of the translocation was to boost the genetic pool of the current population as well as to enhance the wildlife educational concept.
"Two giraffes were earlier today translocated from Soysambu ranch to Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary in Solai Nakuru. The Sanctuary currently has Seven (7) giraffes, Ostriches, impalas and zebras.
"The purpose of today's translocation is to boost the genetic pool of the current population as well as to enhance the wildlife educational concept. The Sanctuary is scheduled to receive elands in the next few days," KWS wrote on their social media pages.
Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary sits on the Solai Coffee estate owned by tycoon Mansukh Patel who grabbed national headlines after one of his dams broke, killing 48 people.
The photo of the giraffe excited Kenyans earlier during the day, with most netizens speculating where the animals were headed.
"So glad they made it to their new home safe," Rona Alakie stated.
"I thought the two giraffes were going for honeymoon," John Calvin joked.
In June this year, the State-owned corporation announced that several lion prides would be moved to protected areas.
KWS Communications Director Paul Jinaro explained that the new initiative was undertaken to mitigate the rising cases of lion-human conflict.
"KWS in collaboration with Solio Ranch in Laikipia County agreed on the implementation of strategic mitigation measures to save the lions as well as counter the threat they pose to the human population in the high-risk areas," he explained.
