New Nubian Giraffe at Prague Zoo: Female Niara to Take on a Central Role in Breeding

With the three-year-old giraffe Niara, Prague Zoo has gained an important new addition for the breeding of the highly endangered Northern Nubian giraffe. The animal was transferred from Leipzig to Prague in March and is expected to take on a central role in the long-term development of the Prague herd.

With Niara, a new representative of the highly endangered Northern Nubian giraffe has arrived at Prague Zoo. The three-year-old female giraffe was transferred from Leipzig Zoo to Prague in March and is considered an important reinforcement for the future development of the herd there.

The young giraffe was born in Leipzig and bears the name Niara, which comes from Swahili and roughly means “the one with a higher purpose”. She may now fulfil this purpose in Prague: in the long term, she is expected to take on a central role in the breeding of the population.

Foto: Zoo Praha | Petr Hamerník

According to curator Barbora Dobiášová, the transfer took place on the recommendation of the European breeding coordinator. The arrival of the animal is linked to a planned rejuvenation of the herd ahead of the expected arrival of a new breeding bull in early summer. At the same time, this marks the first arrival of a giraffe in Prague since April 2017.

After her arrival, Niara was initially housed in the background area of the African House, where she adapted to the new conditions. Contact with the existing herd took place gradually – first visually, then directly the following day. According to the zoo, the integration proceeded calmly: the animals approached the newcomer cautiously but with clear interest. Only the female Faraa briefly showed defensive behaviour, but quickly abandoned it.

Niara comes from a well-known Prague line: her father Matyáš was born at Prague Zoo in 2019 and transferred to Leipzig a year later. She is therefore also the granddaughter of the long-standing breeding bull Johan and the giraffe Eliška. In Prague, she now joins her aunts Anička and Johanka. These three young females are considered key prospects for future breeding.

Foto: Zoo Praha | Petr Hamerník

At the same time, the zoo is preparing for the arrival of a new breeding bull, expected in June from Safaripark Beekse Bergen. He is set to succeed the legendary male Johan, who fathered a total of 29 offspring over 18 years and is regarded as the most successful giraffe bull in the zoo’s history.

Prague Zoo is among the most traditional institutions in Europe for the keeping of giraffes. The animals have been cared for there since 1954. Since the 1970s, breeding has focused on the Northern Nubian giraffe, which is classified as “Critically Endangered” on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In total, more than 80 calves have been born in Prague, most recently in July 2024.



Prague Zoo (Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy)  
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