Benito is a giraffe who is currently in Africam Safari, a zoo in Puebla, Mexico,[1] after being relocated from Ciudad Juárez.[2][3] He first lived in a zoo in Culiacán, Sinaloa before being moved to Ciudad Juárez after fears of attacks against Benito from an engaged male giraffe.[1][4]
Benito first gained recognition after animal activists and a change.org petition called to relocate him from a shelter at a city park in Ciudad Juárez, in which he arrived in May 2023, to a ranch in McGregor, Texas, which was signed by more than 79,000 people.[2][4][5] He was described as "lonely" in his shelter in Ciudad Juárez.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Romero, Lissette (January 23, 2024). "Gangly adolescent giraffe Benito has arrived at his new home. Now comes the hard part -- fitting in". Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Gonzalez, Jose Luis (January 22, 2024). "Mexico's Benito the giraffe begins 50-hour journey to new safari home". Reuters. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Stevenson, Mark (June 14, 2023). "Benito the giraffe is alone and struggling at small Mexican zoo, climate activists say". Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Kocherga, Angela (September 14, 2023). "Animal rights groups want Benito the giraffe moved from a park in the border city Juarez". KTEP. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Bedoya, Aaron A. (June 9, 2023). "Online petition calls for relocating 'lonely' giraffe Benito in Juárez to Texas ranch". El Paso Times. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Villagran, Lauren (July 6, 2023). "Texas wildlife sanctuary offers to take in Juárez giraffe Benito". El Paso Times. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ Ramirez, Cindy (February 8, 2024). "Watch: Benito the giraffe healthy, a 'flirt' in new Africam Safari home". El Paso Matters. Retrieved February 13, 2024.