King Of France Recieves Giraffe As A Gift

By Princessa

July 9th 1827: The Ottoman ruler of Egypt, in an attempt to impress the French king Charles X, decided to send him a present that was sure to impress. A young female giraffe was captured and sent by sailing ship to Marseilles. The giraffe, called Zarafa (which means "giraffe" in Arabic), spent the winter in the coastal city. Then, in May, set off to walk the nine hundred kilometers to Paris, where she was presented to the king. She then settled into her new home, the "Jardin des Plantes" -the world's first zoo. She lived there for eighteen years. The sweet-tempered animal was was a favorite with Parisians old and young.

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