Benito, the giraffe whose solitary existence at a park along Mexico's dry northern border sparked a relocation campaign, commenced his journey on Monday to a new residence at a safari park in the heart of the country.
Since May, Benito has resided at Central Park in Ciudad Juarez, where the desert climate has subjected him to soaring summer temperatures and plummeting winter conditions, with a forecasted low of 9°C (48°F) on Monday.
Late on Sunday, a crane carefully lifted a sizable container, housing the towering Benito, onto a truck to initiate a 50-hour road trip to Africam Safari, a park located in the state of Puebla, approximately 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Mexico City. Africam Safari's director, Frank Camacho, assured that veterinarians would closely monitor Benito throughout the journey.
Camacho emphasized the significance of providing Benito with favorable conditions in an enclosure equipped with controlled temperatures and an ample supply of food. The move aims to offer Benito improved living conditions, including a more suitable climate and the companionship of seven other giraffes at his new home.
The successful relocation marks a triumph for activists who argued that the park in Juarez was unsuitable for the majestic giraffe.
Ana Felix, a spokesperson for the Save Benito movement, expressed joy over the move, stating, "The Save Benito movement is thrilled because today he is heading to the city of Puebla and will be in a place befitting a specimen of this magnitude."
