TUCSON, AZ — Reid Park Zoo in Tucson delayed its opening Friday morning after a young giraffe ventured outside her enclosure.
Zoo officials say Msituni, a 3-year-old giraffe new to the zoo, was outside of her habitat just before 9 a.m., before the zoo opened to the public.
Staff immediately initiated emergency response protocols, delaying the zoo’s opening for about an hour and a half while ensuring the giraffe’s safety.
Zoo officials say Msituni remained calm throughout the situation, staying in one area and nibbling on a nearby mesquite tree.
Under the supervision of the zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams, she eventually returned to her habitat on her own.
“All giraffes are safe, and the Zoo has reopened,” the statement from Reid Park Zoo read.
The zoo says short-term modifications to the giraffe habitat began immediately after the incident, with longer-term permanent adjustments planned to accommodate Msituni’s active and curious nature.
