Watch: How Dubai celebrated its beloved giraffe’s 25th birthday at Safari Park

Dubai: A special birthday bash has taken place in Dubai to mark the 25th birthday of the emirate’s beloved giraffe Dalia, one of the oldest residents of Dubai Safari Park.

The park has shared a video showing how animal keepers showered love on the long-necked beauty with a special cake tailored to her taste-topped with slices of carrot and cucumber, crisp lettuce, and a dash of her favourite treats.

They crafted the number 25 on top of the cake using neatly arranged slices of cucumber and carrot and showered birthday wishes on her.

In a previous video, animal keeper Henry Kayondo said she is a reticulated giraffe which is categorized under the endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

She is touted as an example to promote conservation of these animals as there are fewer than 11,000 of her species only remain in the world now.

Life expectancy of giraffes in the wild is 25. But, Dubai Safari has a special diet for the geriatric giraffe to keep her healthy and strong even in her old age. “Dalia being under geriatric [category] of giraffes, we take good care of Dalia by giving her vitamins and supplements in her diet to boost her immune system,” said Henry.

He said Dalia is a highly communicative animal. Animals have various ways of interacting, and giraffes are no exception. Although giraffes don't use vocal sounds often, they rely on body language, subtle movements, and eye contact to communicate.

For example, if Dalia wants other animals to move, she'll gently use her neck to guide them, almost as if saying, "Please let us go, leave this place." What makes Dalia truly special is her role as the “wise elder” of the group. She has helped teach the other animals how to interact calmly with the guests we welcome every day.

She shares a strong bond with her keepers. “Dalia recognises our scent and feels confident in our presence. When vets arrive for checkups, she remains calm and prefers to stay close to her keepers,” he added.

Another animal keeper, Amok Ikere, shared his special bond with Dalia in another video.

“What amazes me so much about Dalia is that she has reached her golden years, but she is full of life. It took me years to understand her and also to build the bond between me and her.”

He said they have planted a lot of trees for her as she loves trees and the sun.

“I love her. I take care of her. I protect her, and she has become part of my life. And that is so priceless for me.”