LYNN, THE LOVEABLE GIRAFFE, PASSES AWAY

It has been a sad time for everyone at Giraffe Manor.

Lynn, the old matriarch from the nearby Giraffe Centre, unfortunately fell ill and passed away last week.

Lynn had been sick for a while, and when the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) arrived at the Centre to treat her, she unfortunately succumbed to her ailments. It is thought that old age played a major role in her ability to cope with the situation.

Born in 1996, Lynn was the daughter of Daisy II, and had four babies in her time at the Centre. The staff at Giraffe Manor loved her and she was very popular with the guests. If you have stayed the Manor, and woken up in the morning to a giraffe sticking its head into your bedroom window, the chances are it was Lynn.

Lynn was the leader of the herd, and when she felt there was a threat in their midst, she was the first to charge. She was a solid and friendly giraffe (and terribly greedy) and did not mind being touched and petted in exchange for food.

She was often so hell-bent on being fed her treats that she would block the doorway to the manor so the team couldn’t get past her.

She also liked to play catch with the staff, and if you had good enough aim you could throw a pellet (her food treats) from a fair distance and she would catch it in her mouth. She was always happy to give Giraffe Kisses, where her long tongue would drench the face of anyone willing to put a treat in their mouth.

She was also the first to your window in the mornings, sticking her long neck up to the balconies and through the dining room doors for breakfast.

The whole team are very sad about her passing; we all spent so much time with her that she was part of the family.

Kelly, another of the older Giraffes, has now resumed the matriarchal role and is still leading the way to the manor as usual.

We will miss you, Lynn.

Here’s a dedication message from Tanya Carr-Hartley:

It’s hard to say goodbye to Lynn, who was a larger than life giraffe, in every aspect! A great mum, elegant, gentle, and always hustling for front of stage! This couldn’t have been more real than on the day that we had a special function for our twins, Tisa and Kinna, at the Manor. The service was on the front lawn, and we had about 60 guests and a fair amount of children. Just as the gentleman taking the service took my twins together, Lynn decided she was joining them too, and nudged her head between the Tisa and Kinna taking center stage and insuring all the kids remaining completely transfixed through what could have been a less entertaining service for them!

She was a deep part of Giraffe Manor and we are very sad that her wonderful presence will not be there anymore!