Shira, the 4.2 metre giraffe, has arrived in the South Island by boat.
The two-year-old began her adventure on Wednesday to her new home at Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch.
Shira travelled in a special crate by sea on board the 25,000 tonne ship SHANSI. She will now road trip from Timaru to the park, where zoo staff are excitedly waiting. Initial travel plans were changed from Lyttelton Port to Timaru after discovering Shira was too tall for the Lyttelton Tunnel.
Shira in her crate being lifted onto land (Thomas Mead)
She will be joined by a second giraffe, Mdomo, in the new year. The two are part of a zoo-based breeding programme.
Shira will be integrated with three other females when she arrives.
"We are very much looking forward to working with her," says Orana's head keeper of exotic animals Rob Clifford.
The public have the chance to meet Shira next week after she takes the weekend to settle in with her new friends.
3 News
The ship Shira travelled on (Thomas Mead)
Shira keeping well fed while en route to Timaru (Auckland Zoo)
