Out of Africa Wildlife Park raising funds to bring new giraffe to Camp Verde

Following the death of its star giraffe in August, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is fundraising for a new one to take center stage. 

The wildlife park in Camp Verde said in an Aug. 22 Facebook post that Kibo, the park's 20-year-old giraffe, was euthanized two days prior due to complications in recovery from an anesthetic procedure. Kibo was first brought to the wildlife park in 1999 and was known for his wrinkly neck and giraffe kisses, the park said. 

About a month later, the wildlife park began fundraising for a young male giraffe in need of a loving home, according to the park's GoFundMe campaign created Sept. 26. It has since been generating ongoing support.

"We would like to see Kibo's legacy continue on into the next generation with a new youngster to fill some big shoes and carry the baton," the GoFundMe campaign states. "We hope he will continue to spread love and kisses while educating guests on all of his wild cousins. We hope he will touch the hearts of all guests he meets."

The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $12,000 of its $75,000 goal as of Wednesday night. The park is also selling memorial T-shirts with an image of Kibo until Oct. 31, the campaign states. 

According to the campaign, the $75,000 is needed to professionally transport the new giraffe to the Arizona park and to update the park's habitat and the items needed to accommodate the giraffe. 

In a Facebook post on Sept. 29, the park explained that "future Kibo" is currently housed at an animal sanctuary in Ohio, where he will soon outgrow his habitat. 

"Kibo was with us for 17 years, and although he'll never be replaced and has some very big (and tall!) shoes to fill, we hope to bring in a new giraffe to continue on Kibo's legacy as the park's ambassador for his species...and maybe even take Kibo's title as Best Kisser!" the post says. 

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels. 

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