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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The birth of twin giraffes at Natural Bridge |
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Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio on May 10, 2013, was a remarkable |
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occurrence, one that is truly deserving of special recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, The two reticulated giraffes were the ninth set of |
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living giraffe twins ever born in captivity and only the second set |
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of living twins born in the United States; Wasswa, the female calf, |
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weighed 95 pounds at birth and was 4.5 feet tall, while her twin |
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brother, Nakato, weighed 125 pounds and stood 5.5 feet tall; these |
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striking creatures have been featured in television and newspaper |
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stories across Texas and around the world, and they are also |
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included in 5 Giraffes, the forthcoming book by famed giraffe |
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expert Anne Innis Dagg, who visited Wasswa and Nakato on the |
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inaugural World Giraffe Day in 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, Giraffes are an endangered species in the wild; |
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since 1999, the population of wild giraffes has declined by 50 |
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percent, and in the past 10 years, 80 percent of reticulated |
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giraffes have disappeared; animal sanctuaries such as Natural |
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Bridge Wildlife Ranch play a vital role in preserving and raising |
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awareness about this unique species, and since the twins were born, |
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the ranch has seen the birth of two more giraffes; and |
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WHEREAS, Visitors from across the state and nation have |
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delighted in seeing and learning about giraffes at the Natural |
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Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and the third birthday of Wasswa and Nakato |
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represents a fitting opportunity to celebrate the beauty and grace |
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of the world's tallest mammal; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the birth of Wasswa and Nakato in |
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2013 and recognize May 10, 2016, as Texas Giraffe Day; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Miller of Comal |
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Anderson of Dallas |
Hernandez |
Phelan |
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Anderson of McLennan |
Herrero |
Phillips |
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Bonnen of Brazoria |
Johnson |
Rinaldi |
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Bonnen of Galveston |
Kacal |
Rodriguez of Bexar |
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Burkett |
Keffer |
Rodriguez of Travis |
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Burrows |
King of Hemphill |
Rose |
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Button |
King of Parker |
Sanford |
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Canales |
King of Taylor |
Schaefer |
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Capriglione |
King of Uvalde |
Schofield |
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Craddick |
Landgraf |
Simmons |
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Davis of Dallas |
Lozano |
Springer |
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Davis of Harris |
Lucio III |
Stephenson |
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Deshotel |
Márquez |
Stickland |
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Dukes |
Martinez |
Thompson of Brazoria |
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Dutton |
Martinez Fischer |
Thompson of Harris |
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Elkins |
McClendon |
Tinderholt |
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Faircloth |
Metcalf |
Turner of Collin |
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Fallon |
Meyer |
Turner of Harris |
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Farias |
Miles |
Turner of Tarrant |
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Farney |
Miller of Comal |
VanDeaver |
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Farrar |
Miller of Fort Bend |
Villalba |
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Frank |
Morrison |
White of Bell |
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Frullo |
Muñoz, Jr. |
White of Tyler |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 3047 was adopted by the House on May 27, |
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2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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