Giraffes are back at troubled Burlington County zoo
Nearly one year after a fire killed a mother and baby giraffe at a small Burlco zoo, the 5 giraffes that survived are back. They temporarily were housed at Six Flags Great Adventure Safari while their barn was rebuilt. Six Flags recently announced it was closing the safari to car traffic.
Giraffes are back at troubled Burlington County zoo
Jan Hefler
Nearly one year after a fire killed a mother and baby giraffe at a small Burlington County zoo, five of the seven giraffes that survived are back. While their barn at Animal Kingdom was rebuilt, they were temporarily housed at Six Flags Great Adventure Safari in Jackson Township.
Animal Kingdom, in Springfield, has had a troubled history. Over the past dozen years, it was cited for more than 200 violations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Oct. 30 fire erupted four days after the USDA had warned the zoo owner that his license would be revoked if he did not correct the animal neglect and squalor.
When the fire broke out, Great Adventure agreed to take care of five of the giraffes that had fled the flames. "Considering eveything the animals have been through, they are very resilient," said Kristin Siebeneicher, Great Adventure spokesperson. "They had enjoyed being part of our close encounters tour, a bus tour where people feed them carrots and sweet potatoes."
It's unclear what happened to the two other giraffes that had escaped.
Animal Kingdom's website enthusiastically announces that the giraffes "are back!!!!!" A staff member said that patrons are invited to purchase bamboo for $3 to feed to the creatures after paying the $10 admission for adults and $5 for children.
Meanwhile, Six Flags last month closed the safari to car traffic, ending a popular attraction. Starting next year, the staff will drive 30-passenger trucks through the safari to allow visitors an up-close but more controlled encounter with the animals. The Animal Kingdom giraffes, Siebeneicher said, had adapted to the car traffic and were among the "gentle creatures" that visitors had admired over the past year.
:/ I didn't even know there was a zoo in Burlington County. Poor Giraffes.— SuziSaul- This is truly sickening. Here's how you can make a difference. Don't Buy A Ticket! As long as these zoos make money, animals will continue to live and die in misery. It's that simple. Please, don't go to this roadside display or any facility where animals live in cages for human's amusement. Your Ticket, Your Fault.— stkittchick
- Heading to the zoo today and can't wait to feed the giraffes.— peemcc19
- The real question: when is this newspaper going to start covering news that people in Burlington County that people actually care about? Note to editors: you can find us on any map of the Delaware Valley. Really. Start by looking for the Delaware River and then, slowly, glance to your right.— fredfromjersey
