The giraffes' diets primarily consist of fresh browse (small flowering plants), and the karo fits well into their nutritional needs. With giraffes spending up to 20 hours a day feeding, the partnership between the Council and the Zoo is crucial for maintaining a consistent food supply.
"We've been working with the Council to collect browse for a long time. The giraffes need fresh browse, and we rely on WCC and private contractors to supply it," says Nathan Roberts, Ground manager at Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo.
A truckload of karo lasts about two days, or six feeds for the giraffes. 18 truckloads were recently collected from Greta Point, with browse also being collected at sites across Haewai/Houghton Bay, Taputeranga Island, and Te Raekaihau/Princess Bay.