In 1487, a strange creature appeared at the court of the Medici in Florence, causing a sensation with its long neck and unusual behavior. The creature, believed to be a giraffe, amazed onlookers by bending down to take food from children and being fed by noblewomen from second-story windows. This event marked the beginning of a fascination with giraffes that would continue through history.
In 1827, Paris experienced a similar giraffe-mania when a female giraffe was presented to Charles X. The giraffe’s presence led to a surge in popularity of all things giraffe-related, from high-piled hairstyles to giraffe-spotted wallpaper. Some even believe that the design of the Eiffel Tower was inspired by the giraffe.
Anne Innis Dagg, a young girl visiting the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago at the age of two, had a life-changing encounter with giraffes. Being small in stature, she was mesmerized by the towering giraffes in their enclosure. When they suddenly became frightened and galloped around with their long necks and legs in a flurry of motion, it was a beautiful sight that left a lasting impression on her. Her experience with giraffes would influence her life in profound ways.