Panya may be one of the smallest-statured giraffe in the CMZoo tower, but since moving to the Zoo in 2019, she has secured her spot as a confident standout in the herd with a lot of independence. She turns seven years old on August 13, and CMZoo partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, is helping throw a big party to celebrate.
Deanna Sinclair, animal keeper in African Rift Valley, says Panya knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to communicate it. She is a good student, and voluntarily participates in blood draws and hoof care, which are important behaviors that allow Panya to be an active participant in her own health care. Blood draw training allows her to provide blood samples that help her care team monitor her health and to contribute to a giraffe calf blood plasma bank, as well as help biologists study giraffe health on a broader scale.
“When we’re training, most giraffe have subtle ‘tells’ that indicate they’re ready to move on to the next activity,” Deanna says. “They might twitch or flap their ears, but Panya will look at us and just calmly walk away, or move her head to the opposite side of a target stick to tell us she’s finished. Which is fine! It’s her choice, and she knows it.”
Part of that confidence must come from knowing her environment and her herdmates well. She’s very aware of her surroundings. During training, there are other giraffe in the barn away from the training stall. In between training behaviors, Panya often takes a moment to check in with the herd, looking around to see what everyone else is up to before returning to the task at hoof.
If being a few feet shorter than most of the other giraffe doesn’t make her unique enough, her spot patterns make her easy to pick out in the herd. She’s fluffier than most giraffe her age, and her markings are gorgeous, with one white spot in the middle of each of her brown spots. She has an ash-colored face, and thick ossicones. Giraffe are considered full grown at this age, typically weighing between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. Panya weighs in around 1,350 pounds. Every giraffe is different, just like people are, and her small stature is part of what makes her unique.
Although confident, Panya doesn’t rush into new enrichment, locations or activities. She needs to experience new things at her own pace, and she will slowly approach and keep investigating thoughtfully.
“She usually chooses to engage in food sources or enrichment items away from other giraffe,” Deanna says. “She seems to like that alone time, but knowing her herd is nearby is important to her, too.”
When she’s not training, exploring or taking lettuce from CMZoo guests, she likes to interact with enrichment in unique ways. Specifically, Panya likes to hit things with her head and kick things with her long legs.
“She’s very tactile with enrichment,” Deanna says. “She likes to stand over items in the yard and nudge them with her hooves, or stand next to a long hanging string of boomer balls and knock them around with her head. We don’t really see other giraffe do that, but she seems to enjoy it.”
Staff hope she enjoys the birthday cake, made out of grain, fruit and veggies that she’ll be offered on her birthday by a special Children’s Hospital Colorado patient family. Giraffe fans should mark their calendars for Tues., Aug. 13, and get advance e-tickets to join in the festivities. The birthday party will be at the giraffe boardwalk in African Rift Valley from 10 a.m. to noon.
Join in these fun activities from 10 a.m. until noon on Tues., Aug. 13!
— Visit our docent booth with animal biofacts to learn more about the natural world.
— Make Panya a birthday card!
— Visit Children’s Colorado’s photo booth – complete with giraffe photo props!
— Visit Children’s Colorado’s coloring station.
11 a.m. — Enjoy a giraffe keeper talk on the giraffe boardwalk.
11:30 a.m. — Sing happy birthday and watch special guests from Children’s Colorado give a birthday treat to Panya.
While all the activities are free, advance Zoo tickets are required for members and the general public. They’re available at cmzoo.org.