| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The birth of twin giraffes at Natural Bridge |
|
|
Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio on May 10, 2013, was a remarkable |
|
|
occurrence, one that is truly deserving of special recognition; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The two reticulated giraffes were the ninth set of |
|
|
living giraffe twins ever born in captivity and only the second set |
|
|
of living twins born in the United States; Wasswa, the female calf, |
|
|
weighed 95 pounds at birth and was 4.5 feet tall, while her twin |
|
|
brother, Nakato, weighed 125 pounds and stood 5.5 feet tall; these |
|
|
striking creatures have been featured in television and newspaper |
|
|
stories across Texas and around the world, and they are also |
|
|
included in 5 Giraffes, the forthcoming book by famed giraffe |
|
|
expert Anne Innis Dagg, who visited Wasswa and Nakato on the |
|
|
inaugural World Giraffe Day in 2014; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Giraffes are an endangered species in the wild; |
|
|
since 1999, the population of wild giraffes has declined by 50 |
|
|
percent, and in the past 10 years, 80 percent of reticulated |
|
|
giraffes have disappeared; animal sanctuaries such as Natural |
|
|
Bridge Wildlife Ranch play a vital role in preserving and raising |
|
|
awareness about this unique species, and since the twins were born, |
|
|
the ranch has seen the birth of two more giraffes; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Visitors from across the state and nation have |
|
|
delighted in seeing and learning about giraffes at the Natural |
|
|
Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and the third birthday of Wasswa and Nakato |
|
|
represents a fitting opportunity to celebrate the beauty and grace |
|
|
of the world's tallest mammal; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commemorate the birth of Wasswa and Nakato in |
|
|
2013 and recognize May 10, 2016, as Texas Giraffe Day; and, be it |
|
|
further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch as an expression of |
|
|
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |