Offbeat

Abandoned baby giraffe bonds with dog at animal orphanage

South African farmer found Jazz weak and dehydrated in the wild

Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe, at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photogrtaph: Jerome Delay/AP Photo
Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe, at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photogrtaph: Jerome Delay/AP Photo
Fri Nov 22 2019 - 19:33

A baby giraffe abandoned at birth has befriended a dog after being rescued and taken to an animal orphanage in South Africa.

Jazz the giraffe arrived at The Rhino Orphanage in Limpopo province just days after birth. A farmer found him in the wild, weak and dehydrated, and called the centre for help.

Resident watchdog Hunter quickly began to care for the newcomer, and orphanage caretaker Janie Van Heerden said the pair bonded immediately.

Janie Van Heerden feeds Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Janie Van Heerden feeds Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe, at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe, at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Janie Van Heerden feeds Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Janie Van Heerden feeds Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe, at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP
Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, a nine-day-old giraffe, at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP

She said Jazz has been given IV fluids and his health is improving. He is being fed milk and is trying to eat leaves.

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She added: “Possibly soon he will be able to go home.”–PA