Zarafa the Giraffe
In 1827, a new craze hit Europe, sparking a media and popular culture frenzy. The catalyst was an animal, but not just any animal: she was the most exotic and outlandish creature ever seen by the European public at that time. Her name was Zarafa, and she was the first giraffe ever to set foot on French soil.
A gift to King Charles X from Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt, Zarafa was a prime example of what is termed “animal diplomacy”, where nations attempt to curry favour with others through gifts of rare and beautiful wildlife. Following a 41-day trip on foot from the southern port of Marseilles, she took up residence in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, an object of wonder and curiosity. Then, following her death 18 years later, she enjoyed a second ‘life’ as a stuffed specimen in the foyer of the main building.
In this special documentary, the Mooney Goes Wild team will follow Zarafa’s fascinating story, from her early days roaming the lush savannahs of Sudan with her mother, her capture and international celebrity and her subsequent descent into obscurity, right through to her eventual resurrection as the centrepiece exhibit in the La Rochelle Natural History Museum. We will also discuss the plight of giraffes today and the efforts underway to conserve them in their native Africa, as well as shed some light on the hidden lives of these larger-than-life creatures.