TITLE: Commemorating the birth of twin giraffes at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch and recognizing May 10, 2016, as Texas Giraffe Day.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the birth of twin giraffes at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch and recognizing May 10, 2016, as Texas Giraffe Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The birth of twin giraffes at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio on May 10, 2013, was a remarkable occurrence, one that is truly deserving of special recognition; and WHEREAS, The two reticulated giraffes were the ninth set of living giraffe twins ever born in captivity and only the second set of living twins born in the United States; Wasswa, the female calf, weighed 95 pounds at birth and was 4.5 feet tall, while her twin brother, Nakato, weighed 125 pounds and stood 5.5 feet tall; these striking creatures have been featured in television and newspaper stories across Texas and around the world, and they are also included in 5 Giraffes,the forthcoming book by famed giraffe expert Anne Innis Dagg, who visited Wasswa and Nakato on the inaugural World Giraffe Day in 2014; and WHEREAS, Giraffes are an endangered species in the wild; since 1999, the population of wild giraffes has declined by 50 percent, and in the past 10 years, 80 percent of reticulated giraffes have disappeared; animal sanctuaries such as Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch play a vital role in preserving and raising awareness about this unique species, and since the twins were born, the ranch has seen the birth of two more giraffes; and WHEREAS, Visitors from across the state and nation have delighted in seeing and learning about giraffes at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and the third birthday of Wasswa and Nakato represents a fitting opportunity to celebrate the beauty and grace of the world's tallest mammal; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the birth of Wasswa and Nakato in 2013 and recognize May 10, 2016, as Texas Giraffe Day; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Miller of Comal Straus Gonz lez Otto Allen Guerra Paddie Alonzo Guillen Parker Alvarado Gutierrez Paul Anchia Harless Pe a Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Herrero Phillips Ashby Howard Pickett Aycock Huberty Price Bell Hughes Raney Bernal Hunter Raymond Blanco Isaac Reynolds Bohac Israel Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Rose Button King of Parker Sanford Canales King of Taylor Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schofield Clardy Klick Schubert Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Cyrier Laubenberg Smith Dale Leach Smithee Darby Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel M rquez Stickland Dukes Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Collin Fallon Meyer Turner of Harris Farias Miles Turner of Tarrant Farney Miller of Comal VanDeaver Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Villalba Fletcher Minjarez Vo Flynn Moody Walle Frank Morrison White of Bell Frullo Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Murphy Workman Geren Murr Wray Giddings Naishtat Wu Goldman Nev rez Zedler Gonzales Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 3047 was adopted by the House on May 27, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House