The first time I met Benjamin was when I swung by his place to observe how he spends his days as a local celebrity. Over the years, many have wondered what this tall, friendly dude is really like. And I was going to get the answers.
As I approached, he was already leaning against the railing of our meet-up spot, as imposing as he appears in the countless photos of him online. But, as I’d been warned, he was also full of cheeky energy—and he repeatedly tried to swipe my notebook out of my hands with his purple-tinged tongue.
Did I forget to mention that he’s a giraffe?
Yes, this is a Q&A with Benjamin the giraffe of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. During this exclusive interview, he tells all for the first time—from the truth about Netty the ostrich to what the zoo is really like late at night.
Photo Credit: Madison Sullivan
Hey, how’s the weather up there? Just kidding! I’m sure you get that a lot. We’re really wondering what you’ve been up to recently?
Hello! I have been up to quite a bit, mostly eating, because it takes a whole bunch of food to reach 17 feet, 2,700 pounds!
One new activity I have been doing is presenting my hoof so my zookeepers can give me a pedicure. I enjoy getting my hooves trimmed because the keepers give me my favorite snacks while they take care of my hooves.
Something else is new around here. What’s it like sharing a space with Poppy and Clover? Are they good roommates?
They just moved in at the beginning of February. They are quiet, like me, and mostly keep to themselves. As you know, giraffe vocalization is too low for human ears to hear, and ostrich will only occasionally hiss. Which makes them the perfect roommates! They are usually chasing butterflies around the yard or sunbathing. Occasionally they will dance and run around the yard, which is very fun to watch!
We heard a rumor their friend Netty has a crush on you. Any comment on that?
Don’t tell Akayla, but she definitely does. I am not sure Netty knows she is an ostrich like Poppy and Clover. She eats from our hay trough, and lays near Akayla and I when we are sunning. She is usually found right near my feet, but she is careful not to get stepped on. Ostrich and giraffe coexist well in the wild because we feed much higher than the ostrich and other grazing animals!
You probably drew her eye with your sense of humor! After all, you’ve been known to try and prank visitors by grabbing their hats off their heads. What’s up with that?
I love grabbing people’s hats and anything else I can reach! I also like to prank my zookeeper friends by grabbing their rakes and shovels from the other side of the fence. I love the reaction people give, and we giraffes use our tongue to strip leaves from thorny trees, so it is easy to take a purse from a human!
While we’re on the topic of heads, yours weighs almost 200 pounds—and we recently read an article that said giraffes use their brains for statistical reasoning! With smarts like that, we’d love to hear your favorite fun fact about your species.
My head weighs close to 200, but Akayla’s is only around 60 pounds. I have to use mine like a battering ram to fight off other male giraffes. We can also partially shut off our brain to get some extra rest while awake. Which is how we only sleep 20 minutes a night in the wild! Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about lions or other predators here, so I sleep almost four hours a night.
Photo Credit: Madison Sullivan
Speaking of using your brain: If you had to choose one enrichment activity to do every day, what would it be?
My favorite enrichment is anything involving food! Especially our milk crate feeder that holds hay and browse. I love the challenge of using my tongue to get the hay and browse from the small opening in the crates. If you come early enough, you may see me in action. The feeder sometimes hangs from a big pole, taller than me, by the porcupine yard!
Who’s your favorite zookeeper, and why? Would Akayla agree?
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite zookeeper. I am different than most giraffes, because I love to meet new people! Even if they don’t have tasty snacks. I am fascinated by humans because you come in all shapes and sizes. I love meeting all of you!
Akayla would not agree, she only likes to meet new people if they offer a treat to make it worth it.
Outside of your zookeepers, you have a lot of people over at your place every day for food. What’s on the menu?
We have some great food here! We get fresh leaves from the guests, like wax myrtle and willow. It’s tasty and healthy for me, so I can eat as much as I want. I even eat the bark too! My favorite snack is sweet potatoes chopped up like french fries. That way I can grab them easily with my tongue. I only get those on special occasions, like training, to keep my diet balanced and healthy.
What’s your most memorable encounter with a visitor?
One time, when I was living in Ohio, I met two visitors who brought me all the way back to sunny Gulf Shores! One is now my doctor, Dr. Langston, who keeps me healthy. The other is one of my zookeepers, Austin, who keeps me well-fed and gives me fun things to play with!
Finally, you can see a lot from your vantage point—so give us the scoop. What’s the zoo like once all the humans leave for the day? We bet it’s a wild time. After all, when the keepers are away, the animals will play!
I can nearly see the whole zoo from way up here because my eyesight is one of my best senses. I can see the camels sleeping in their yard, and the clouded leopards playing throughout the night. I watch the security guard make their rounds and watch the wild deer grazing in the pasture right outside my exhibit. I have even seen wild bobcats walking around. I know the other animals are thankful for the large perimeter fence to keep them out!
Photo Credit: Madison Sullivan
After agreeing and thanking Benjamin profusely for his time, I headed on. But, of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to ask the zookeeper that Benjamin mentioned a couple quick questions. Here’s what Austin Everett, the animal care manager in the Africa department, had to say:
How did you end up working at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo?
I watched a show on Animal Planet called “The Little Zoo That Could” and was shocked to learn it was filmed at a little zoo in Gulf Shores. I immediately applied, and started working part time in the summer of 2012 while I attended college at the University of South Alabama. I then graduated with a degree in biology and began work full time in 2014. It has been my dream job, and we have since moved from the little zoo to a large facility.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is building a trusting relationship with the animals. They are genuinely excited to see me every day, and I am always excited to see them. I love getting to tell people all about the animals and educating people on the importance of conserving these species in the wild.
There you have it, folks: An inside look (from way up high) at the life of Benjamin the giraffe.
If you want to meet him yourself, book a Giraffe Feeding animal adventure, and head to Twiga Station at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. While Benjamin might not be as talkative with you as he was with me, I’m sure he’ll be up for a meal together.
*Interviews are edited for length and clarity.