NORFOLK, Va. — Nearly two months after a young giraffe from the Virginia Zoo was sold, the Norfolk City Council authorized allocating the $40,000 profit to the zoo.
In a city council meeting on Tuesday, members approved directing the funding back to the zoo to upgrade the giraffe exhibit.
The giraffe, named Mchanga, was sold and transferred to a private facility in Texas in November. Mchanga, who was shy of turning 2, was considered "surplus."
According to the zoo, animals are considered "surplus" when their genetic profile becomes "overrepresented." Surplus species are typically sold to qualifying, non-accredited facilities where their genetics would be "valuable to a new population."
The young Masai giraffe was the offspring of the zoo's late bull, Billy, and one of their females, Noel.
In a release, the zoo says Mchanga is "doing well and adjusting to its new home."
AZA-accredited facilities like the Virginia Zoo meet the highest standards in animal care and welfare. These accredited zoos and aquariums work to improve the health and conservation of species by producing genetically diverse offspring.