In a quiet corner of the zoo, a team of Animal Care, Health & Welfare staff gathers to review the day’s plans. The final piece of a long-anticipated puzzle has just clicked into place: a specialized trailer – one of the only ones in Canada – is secured. It’s tall, safe, and ready to carry precious cargo across the country.

That cargo is ‘Amani’, a four-year-old female Masai giraffe preparing to make the journey from the Toronto Zoo to her new home in Calgary. Her move is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort among accredited zoos to protect endangered species. With wild populations of Masai giraffes down by more than 50% in recent decades, every carefully planned move matters.

Amani is a promising match for ‘Nabo’ – Canada’s only unrelated male Masai giraffe and, by all accounts, the most eligible bachelor in the country. Their pairing could play a vital role in the future of their species.

Now that the trailer is confirmed, the next phase can begin. It will be delivered to Toronto, where Amani’s care team will begin introducing her to it – slowly, gently, and with plenty of positive reinforcement. The goal is to make the experience as calm and familiar as possible before the long journey ahead.

Back in Calgary, staff begin refining transport logistics and veterinary protocols. Every detail is considered: rest stops, feeding schedules, emergency contacts, and even supplemental heat for the fall weather, when the move will take place. It will require a chase vehicle, a live-stream camera, and a team of dedicated professionals traveling alongside her.

As the day winds down, the team reflects on the progress made. The trailer is ready. The training is about to begin. The path forward is clear. It’s not the day Amani arrives – but it’s the day her journey truly begins.