Zarafa

Zarafa was a giraffe brought from Egypt to Paris in the early 19th century. She arrived in 1827, a gift from the viceroy of Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha, to King Charles X of France. Her journey across the Mediterranean and then overland to Paris was a significant undertaking. Zarafa was housed in a specially constructed pavilion at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. Her presence caused a sensation, drawing large crowds who were fascinated by this exotic creature, the first giraffe to be seen in France in centuries. She became a symbol of the era's fascination with natural history and exploration. Zarafa was meticulously studied by scientists, including the anatomist Georges Cuvier, and her likeness was widely reproduced in art and popular media. She lived for several years in Paris, becoming a beloved and iconic figure in the city's cultural landscape before her death in 1845.