Zarafa (giraffe)

Zarafa (* 1825, † January 12, 1845 ) was a Giraffe who live in the so-called Medici Giraffe by over 300 years, reached Europe first. After more than two years of travel and more than 7000 kilometers, it entered in 1827 European soil. Two other giraffes reached Europe then in the same year.

Origin

Zarafa came from the area of the Blue Nile, the present-day Sudan. It was brought as a gift from Muhammad Ali Pasha, the viceroy of Egypt, to Charles X, King of France, on the way to Paris. Her name was the Arabic word for " giraffe " ( زرافة: the lovely ) borrowed from the name of the species is derived.

Life and work

Zarafa was captured in 1825 as a young animal by hunters near Sennar and first brought by camel to Khartoum. From Khartoum it was transported on the Nile about 2500 km and the six Nile cataracts by boat to Cairo. From Alexandria from the animal was shipped in October 1826 over the Mediterranean to Marseille. In the upper deck of the ship had been cut a large hole through which the giraffe could stretch her ​​neck. The arrival of the giraffe in April 1827 in France was a sensation. Crowds of citizens flocked to admire the animal on his 41 -day walk from Marseille to Paris. Upon their arrival in Paris on June 30, 1827 Giraffe by 60,000 citizens was accompanied in the Jardin des Plantes, where she then lived for almost 18 years. The king and the whole court was presented on July 9, in the park of Saint- Cloud. Zarafa died on 12 January 1845. The carcass was stuffed, the product is now in the Musée d' Histoire naturelle in La Rochelle.

Zarafa inspired a giraffe fashion. The women wore their hair "à la girafe " with high node high. The men preferred high hats, called " girafiques " to ties and spotted west.

More giraffes gifts Ali Pasha

Ali Pasha sent at the same time, two other giraffes to Europe - one to London to George IV, the other to Francis II to Vienna -. , Which got there a little later than Zarafa also 1827 In both cities, the animals solved the same fascination as the giraffe in Paris.

The Vienna giraffe was placed in the menagerie of Schönbrunn, but died after one year. Wiener " valses à la girafe " for violin with piano or guitar are occupied from 1828. The English Giraffe, also a juvenile, reached London on 11 August 1827. IV At the direction of George the giraffe was fed exclusively on milk. A painting of 1827, The Nubian Giraffe Jacques -Laurent Agasse, in the background shows a cow. On October 14, 1829 the animal died and was stuffed.

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