New giraffe barn to improve well-being tremendously, Hamilton Zoo director says

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Zoo director Dr Baird Fleming says the new giraffe barn will be a gamechanger.

Waikato’s tallest residents will soon move into their dream home as Hamilton Zoo’s new giraffe barn nears completion.

Spanning seven metres from the ground to the bottom of the roof, the barn will house the zoo’s two male giraffes Jabali and newcomer Kevin, as well as holding space for more.

Originally approved in 2024, the barn has been subject to hefty delays with construction only starting in February this year. It can’t come soon enough, as the previous barn contained rotting plywood and had no electricity or doors.

Kevin (left) and Jabali (right) are set to have warmer nights once the barn is completed.

The building is a relief for zoo director Dr Baird Fleming, who said it allows staff to provide “modern best practices” for two of their most popular animals.

'We can actually give them heat when it's freezing… these guys don't do so great when it's freezing out,“ Fleming said.

The barn in total is nine metres tall from the ground to the top of the roof.

“Our number one goal always is if we're going to have these animals in our care, we need to make sure they have the best lives we can give them.'

The design was brought together through a combination of a US-based zoo designer and local architects, with Fleming describing it as the fastest design process he’s ever been a part of.

Masamba (pictured) would’ve benefited mightily from the new barn, ungulates keeper Danielle Hook said.

The difference in quality will be night and day, ungulates keeper Danielle Hook says.

While she would've loved to have seen Masamba, one of the zoo’s giraffes who was euthanised last year at 23 use the facility, the construction and quality has her excited for what it’ll provide the current generation with.

An artist’s impressions of the multi-layered giraffe barn.

'They are a savanna species so they're more used to warmer climates… it'll be nice to have a little bit more warmth [and] it'd be good for their joints.'

Ungulates keeper Maddison Painter said the extra space will allow for staff to manage the giraffes far better.

'The boys will just get so much out of it. It's been talked about for years and finally being built and actually seeing it is so cool.'

The barn’s two storey design allows keepers to work eye level with the giraffes, making essential teeth, tongue and ear health checks far easier.

Young Kevin has settled well into his new home in Hamilton after making the trip from Christchurch.

Ventilation, drinkers and feeds will accompany the heating system as well as a padded stall designed to cushion a giraffe’s fall when anaesthetised, a process which can prove fatal.

The medical advancements is a big focus point for fellow ungulates keeper Maddison Painter, who said staff were previously limited by space constraints.

“They have a really nice inside space they'll hopefully be really happy to use and God forbid we do have an emergency for whatever reason, we already have that flow chart of what we're going to do if that happens.'

The regional programme’s well-being will be uplifted along with the animals according to Fleming, pointing to the finite amount of places 'that can actually house giraffes', especially when so many are breeding-focused.

'It's somewhat unlucky if you were born a male giraffe in the region because it's hard to find a home…we're helping the region breathe a sigh of relief by allowing a place to send some of their baby male giraffes.'

It may take up to five weeks 'depending on how brave they are' for the giraffes to fully move in, Hook said, referencing their flighty nature when seeing something new.

'It's basically going to be us slowly getting them up and feeding them in a place where they can see it, then slowly leading them up a bit further and then encouraging them in the door.“

The barn is planned to be in operation by November.