HARPURSVILLE – Animal Adventure in Harpursville has welcomed a new resident to their facility this summer, drawing thousands of visitors to look on – and look up – to all the park has to offer.

Oliver, the three-year-old giraffe, made his local debut at Animal Adventure Park in May. The 12-foot-tall, 1,200 pound animal is the only giraffe in the region, giving visitors a unique spectacle when they visit the park.

“We were excited to get him,” said park owner Jordan Patch. “This is actually a perfect transition time for a giraffe. Normally at this age, they would move on from their mom and go live the nomadic bachelor life if they were living in the wild. But having him here where our trainers and our animal behaviorists can work with him is an excellent opportunity.”

The plan to give Oliver a home at Animal Adventure was more than a year in the making. The specialized barn that houses Oliver was built to unique specifications which include 18-foot-high windows to accommodate Oliver when he’s fully grown, a yard that’s just shy of 10,000 square feet, and an elevated deck where visitors can get up close and personal with Oliver. The facility was made possible thanks in part to financial support from Blueox Energy.