A 12-year-old male giraffe living in an Australian zoo has been awarded the tallest giraffe in the world, hitting 5.7 meters (18 feet, 8 inches).
The Guinness World Records awarded Forest, who lives at Australia Zoo in Queensland, as the tallest living giraffe in the world. The team from the Guinness World Records even created a specially made measuring pole and rig next to a hay dispenser in the giraffe house to record his height.
“Our sweetheart Forest has officially made it into the Guinness World Records for being the tallest living giraffe! We are proud of our towering guy, he has such a wonderful heart,” Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late wildlife conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin, told Guiness World Records.
“Giraffes are doing it tough in the wild, and we’re so proud that we can do our part in ensuring this species is around for the generations to come,” she added.
Forest was born at Auckland Zoo in New Zealand in 2007 and was moved to Australia Zoo, which is run by the Irwin family, at age two. He has been part of the zoo’s breeding program, and has since fathered 12 calves, with one more on the way.
Giraffes usually grow between 15 and 18 feet. They have been listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
You might want to read:
– Woman records hilarious video of cat watching rats fight
– Meet Freddy, the Great Dane, who broke the record for world’s oldest and tallest living dog
– New world record: Dalmatian delivers 19 puppies in a liter
