Giraffe
Brett Westwood admires how the impossible-looking creature once known as the cameleopard journeyed from the plains of Africa to a place in people's hearts the world over.
Brett Westwood admires how the impossible-looking creature once known as the 'camelopard' went from a beloved creature in the African plains to becoming a worldwide sensation spreading 'giraffemania' as news and sightings of its striking beauty travelled around the world. Author Michael Allin tells the story of 'Zarafa' a giraffe taken from Ethiopia to the docks of Marseille that then walked into the heart of Paris, art historian Dr Alexandra Loske describes how King George IV's ailing giraffe was a metaphor for his rule of Britain. We hear from a man whose project sent giraffes viral way before the internet had been taken over by cat and dog memes and we take a more serious look at how giraffe numbers are falling but the world seems not to be listening.
Producer: Tom Bonnett.
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Michael Allin
It chronicles the story of this remarkable animal, revealing a kaleidoscope of history, science, and culture that opens an exotic window on the early nineteenth century.
Ola Helland
Dr Alexandra Loske
She investigated the story of the first ever known giraffe in Britain, given to George IV as a diplomatic gift in the early 19th century.
鈥淚 discovered the giraffe when we acquired Lord Baker鈥檚 collection of regency caricatures, political cartoons from mostly the early 1800s. I spotted prints where a giraffe featured and I thought, 鈥榯hat鈥檚 curious 鈥 why is there a giraffe?" she said.
She is also managing editor of the , which was founded in 1983 and publishes the literary journal The Frogmore Papers and other collections.
Arthur Muneza
At the same time, Arthur is pursuing his PhD at the Research on the Ecology of Carnivores and their Prey laboratory at Michigan State University. Originally from Rwanda, he spent his formative years living and learning in Kenya, one of the most biologically diverse countries in Africa, where he nurtured an interest in wildlife ecology and conservation.
You can watch Arthur and the team 聽that features in the programme. It was produced by聽Michigan State University Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications.聽
Angela Stoeger
Her main model species are African and Asian elephants, highly social mammals that combine a capacity for vocal learning with complex cognitive skills and she is supervising students conducting observational and experimental research on captive and free ranging animals such as giant pandas and giraffes.
Will Walker
"Giraffe are by far my favourite animal and working alongside them every day is an amazing experience and a great privilege. They are such graceful, noble and beautiful animals, and hugely interesting to work with.鈥
Broadcasts
- Tue 7 Nov 2017 11:0091热爆 Radio 4
- Mon 13 Nov 2017 21:0091热爆 Radio 4