Meet Eddie, the 14-year-old laid-back giraffe arriving at the NEW Zoo next week from Madison

Kendra Meinert, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Updated ·3 min read
Eddie, a 14-year-old giraffe from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, will be making the move to the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Suamico. He's expected to arrive at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 10.
Eddie, a 14-year-old giraffe from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, will be making the move to the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Suamico. He's expected to arrive at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 10.

SUAMICO - The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park is getting a new resident, and he's sure to stand out head and shoulders above the rest.

Eddie the giraffe will join current residents Zuri and Nigel in the newly expanded giraffe habitat. The 14-year-old animal will arrive Oct. 10 from the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, which is planning for the construction of a new giraffe habitat.

Eddie is described as a laid-back giraffe who likes to keep an eye on his habitat and his caretakers and is always up for a snack. Romaine lettuce and "fresh browse" are two of his favorites.

The NEW Zoo has been working toward another giraffe for a long time, NEW Zoo director Carmen Murach said in a news release. “But it’s a plan that’s only become a reality thanks to the NEW Zoological Society and the many donors who supported us in building an addition to our giraffe habitat this summer.”

The new Lee & Kathy Anderson Giraffe Lodge opened in July, adding 3,640 square feet of indoor exercise space for the animals in cold weather and during overnight hours as well as additional hay storage. It also allows the zoo to increase its giraffes from a pair to a small herd and participate in breeding efforts, Murach told the Press-Gazette in December at a groundbreaking for the project. A herd dynamic is important when dealing with a social species like giraffes, she said.

Nigel, left, nuzzles Zuri shortly after their introduction in 2019 at the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Suamico.
Nigel, left, nuzzles Zuri shortly after their introduction in 2019 at the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Suamico.

The giraffe building is part of a $1.7 million improvement that also includes a new 912-square-foot building and adjoining outdoor area with a rock formation for the zoo’s two snow leopards.

A donation from Lee and Kathy Anderson of Rockland covered the majority of the cost, and the NEW Zoological Society, an independent nonprofit organization that raises money for the zoo, worked to raise the remaining $600,000.

The public is invited to welcome Eddie upon his arrival, which is tentatively scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Oct. 10. He'll be transported through the zoo in a specially modified trailer and truck. Once at the Giraffe Lodge, he will be be given privacy and time to adjust to his new home.

Visitors to the zoo during the morning of Oct. 10 will be able to create colorful signs to welcome Eddie. They are also invited to bring their own signs from home.

The exact time of his arrival could change depending on weather and other factors. Follow the NEW Zoo's Facebook page and other social media accounts for updates.

Reticulated giraffes first arrived at the zoo in 2005 with the Hodari and Zuri. Hodari, the beloved 15-year-old male, died in 2019 from age-related illnesses. Nigel, a then 9-year-old male, arrived later the same year and shares the exhibit with Zuri.

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Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @KendraMeinert. 

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: NEW Zoo in Suamico to welcome new giraffe to newly expanded habitat