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RussianIvan Giraffe: The Passing of a Legend
Posted at 3:43 pm May 1, 2008 by Lance Aubery
In the short history of the Wild Animal Park, there are only a few animals that have achieved legendary status for both employees and guests alike. Ivan, the male reticulated giraffe, was one such animal. On April 29, 2008, Ivan passed away quietly in the Wild Animal Park’s South Africa exhibit. He was 19 years old.
Ivan arrived at the Wild Animal Park in January 1990. It wasn’t long after his arrival that the “Ivan Stories” started to accumulate. During his years of living in the same multi-species exhibit, Ivan was always actively interacting with his neighbors. As he got acquainted with the various species nearby, he learned early on that some animals just aren’t friendly. A Hartmann’s mountain zebra bit the tip of Ivan’s tail off during his acclimation period!
As Ivan became more comfortable with his surroundings and neighbors, he would focus his attention on specific individuals. He paid plenty of attention to the female reticulated giraffes in his enclosure: Ivan sired 23 offspring during his lifetime. He also preferred to spend many hours following and bothering an adult male Cape buffalo named Bucky. Ivan and Bucky seemed to have an unwritten agreement that each would tolerate harassment from the other. On numerous occasions, Ivan could be observed placing a front hoof on the head of the buffalo!
The biggest reason Ivan was so popular was his personality. He was always curious and easy going. He enjoyed taking food from guests on the Photo Caravan Safari trucks traveling through his home.
No one who interacted with Ivan will ever forget how majestic he was and that pungent odor that alerted us to his proximity. He will be remembered fondly.
Lance Aubery is an animal care supervisor at the Wild Animal Park.
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May 1st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Thank you for letting us know. Ivan seemed like a real sweet giraffe - your account of his goofy interactions with Bucky brings a big smile to my face. Rest in peace, big fellow. We’ll miss ya.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Please accept my deepest sympathies for the Wild Animal Park’s loss of a remarkable giraffe. He will be missed by his animal friends and human visitors and caretakers, with the exception of Bucky. Perhaps even Bucky will wonder where his constant antagonist has gone.
We enjoyed the photo caravan tour last year and our guide pointed out Ivan and his hairless tail. We all had a good laugh at his expense. We fed several giraffes that day and I hope that I was able to provide some delectable leaves to this precious giraffe. Twenty-three offspring!!! What a guy!
May 1st, 2008 at 9:25 pm
My family and I are so sad to hear of Ivan’s passing. He was a beautiful creature and will be sorely missed by everyone.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
i am so sorry for your loss! but 23 offspring! what a busy boy! what was the pungent smell? giraffe farts?
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Dear Lance and all the Caretakers at the Wild Animal Park,
I am so sorry to hear the sad news of the loss of Ivan, the reticulated giraffe. He indeed had a happy life at the beautiful Wild Animal Park.
In November of 2000, we had a wonderful time on the Photo Caravan Safari. Two beautiful giraffes approached us looking for treats. Naturally, they were within touching distance. The guide told the guests not to touch the giraffes while feeding them the treats. I must confess that I could not control the urge to reach out and gently tickle the top of one giraffe’s head. They are such sweet and lovable animals. Now, I am wondering if Ivan was one of the giraffes that came over to our truck traveling through his home. I want to believe he was the one I tickled and talked to on that memorable day.
May the fond memories of Ivan always live in your hearts.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Sorry to hear about Ivan, he sure had interesting life and the picture with the cape buffalo is precious. Is he the father of the baby giraffe Basel.
Moderator’s note: Yes.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I’m sorry to hear about the loss. Rest in peace, Ivan.
The picture where Ivan put his leg on Bucky’s head is very funny. I wonder what’s happening at that time. =)
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I just met Ivan on the photo caravan a couple of weeks ago and he touched me deeply. What a sweet and wonderful animal he was. I got several very close up photos of him and have been using an image of his left eye as the desktop on my computer. I can’t believe he’s gone… this breaks my heart. I am so sorry for all of you who knew him well. He will be missed.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
So very sorry to hear about the loss of Ivan — what a beautiful creature! I am so happy he had so many offspring. And what a delight to hear of his relationship with the Cape buffalo.
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 am
Sad news about Ivan. What a delightful giraffe - and a very happy one by the sound of it. He will live on in your memories and there will be many stories to tell about him in the years to come.
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Dearest Lance and all at the WAP,
I am in shock and you all must be devastated. Ivan had such a wonderful, prolific and full life with you at the WAP. Each visit we made was not complete until we saw Ivan. I remember well watching his antics–especially with Bucky, and can only hope that they are together now enjoying each others’ company. As much as I know he lived a full life I also know how terribly he will be missed. Bless you all in your time of grief and may you always have the happy memories that will soon replace the emptiness you are feeling now. I will never forget that beautiful grizzled face.
Ivan–overflowing personality, so tall and elegant, magnificent and proud–Rest In Peace.
Blessed Be With Love, Judy J
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Was Ivan’s death sudden and unexpected or had he been ill?
May 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Very to sorry to hear of your loss of Ivan. He sounds like quite a guy. What is the “normal” life span of a male giraffe in captivity? To have sired 23 offspring in 19 years is quite a remarkable achievement, and indicates to me that unless AI was used, he was a very healthy and robust animal, well liked by the “ladies.” Is Basel the little giraffe that just appeared in the past few months? If so, and Ivan sired him, was he born via AI, or natural breeding? If natural breeding, did something happen to Ivan recently, or did he die of old age?
Moderator’s note: Giraffes can live 15 to 20 years and sired all of his offspring naturally. He had not given any indication that he was ill prior to the day he passed away.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I hope you will post the results of the necropsy particularly since Ivan had not given any indication that he was ill prior to the day he passed away. Rest in peace, Ivan.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
My daughter Sandy and I had been on board of the photo truck feeding Ivan his leaves. I have a wonderful photo of Ivan and me. His head is taller than my torsoe. He was so kind and likeable. On April 29 I took my daughter and while on a tour we saw Ivan down with vets looking him over and trying to get him up on his feet. It did not look good to us and we went home wondering. On May 9 my whole family came to a Roar and Snore event and discovered that Ivan had passed, probably of old age. We were saddened but know he is in Girafe Land and making his mark all over again. this picture and his memory will always be a part of me.