Farewell to Kiva, the Giraffe I Loved

Very very sad today. Mourning the loss of Kiva the giraffe, who passed away this morning in the safe and excellent care of the Houston Zoo vet and hoofed stock staff. A very special being, the most charming and engaging creature I've ever known. Long-time readers of this blog will recognize him as "my boyfriend". He was the first animal I really bonded with when I began at the Zoo, and our little love affair carried on over the 4 years I was there-- and it will continue. So gentle for his size, and such a flirt... with only me, of course. 


You forever marked my heart, tall guy.


Here was the blog post I'd written about him back in September of 2008. You can read more about Kiva and his family by clicking the Giraffe category from the list to the right of this page.


I'm In LOVE!


Again. Used to be with the zoo's very handsome lion Jonathan, and though I'm still sweet on him, for the last 8 months or so I've been charmed away by the big, tall male giraffe. I've a huge crush on him and it seems like my affections are returned. In fact, I've been positively encouraged by him, I'm convinced of it. He pays me a lot of attention when I'm on the sidewalk, bats his huge brown eyes at me, and follows me until he can't see anymore (and at his height, that's a long way). Though in reality he's probably interested in a lot of folks, I'm in denial and am quite sure WE have a special relationship. Today was further proof of it.

The zoo was in dire need of help after the hurricane, so I went to pitch in for a few hours. There is just so much to do at home and so many others to help, but I'd been especially worried about the giraffes at 3 and 4 am when that storm was RAGING, wondering how they were getting through it. Their only shelter is a tall but narrow wooden house -- all they really need most of the time. But with 100 MPH winds, I could not imagine how they'd fare. I was so glad to see all five of them were there, with no injuries, happily watching their crew of humans tidying up their back yard.

I ended up helping rake and clear their habitat since I couldn't find anyone in carnivores. It did my heart good to be near them. Once I got close enough, my new boyfriend put his big face down to mine and got nose to nose with me. He stayed there breathing through his soft nostrils. His keeper, thinking I might be unnerved, said he might just want to smell me but I knew different.

He licked me and kept his face there for so long I felt forced to tear myself away so I would not look like I was slacking. I moved along, but he kept finding me. He's irresistable; I had to pet his face and coo to him. Around the fifth time I finally risked being totally unprofessional and whipped out my camera, handed it to someone and asked for a quick shot. I knew it would be a once in a lifetime pic. And this is what they got.He's pressing into my cheek and knocking my glasses askew, but clearly he loves me... for who I am, not how I look on clean up day! And I love him!

My niece pointed out that his head is 4 times bigger than my own and they are right. These beings are unspeakably beautiful and awe-inspiring. To have connected this much with one was a miracle, something that was a peak experience in my life, a life that has been chock full of big and amazing things. 


I love you Kiva, and I will never, even forget you.


You can read the details about his passing on the Houston Zoo website.