Feb 03, 2010

PAGE, Ariz. – Princess and Annie Sue, two giraffes formerly belonging to late pop superstar Michael Jackson, were moved from their former Page, Ariz., residence on Jan. 26 to an undisclosed location. The animals will remain in concealment until a permanent home can be finalized for them in St. George.

“They will be held on private property with other privately owned giraffes until such time as we can relocate them to their permanent home in Southern Utah,” said local radio personality Tommy Cage in an email to Today in Dixie. “They are receiving professional vet care as part of the integration at their temporary home and are being fed according to guidelines provided for captive giraffes and as directed by the veterinarian.

“They are happy, they are healthy, and we are excited that the threat to these animals is now over.”

At the center of a legal battle between caretaker Freddie Hancock and the city of Page, the animals once numbered four before two male giraffes died within a short time of each other. The cause of death is currently being investigated.

The city of Page served Hancock with a writ of restitution requiring that she and her foundation, Voices of the Wild Foundation Inc., vacate the city-owned property where the giraffes were being housed, Cage said. The deaths of Rambo and Jabbar Jr., along with rumors that the city of Page was planning to confiscate the remaining two animals, spurred Hancock and her husband to act quickly in moving Princess and Annie Sue.

“We are looking at two other permanent sites in Southern Utah within the next couple of weeks and then we will start meeting with local authorities, jurisdictions and municipalities that will be most affected by our presence there,” Cage said. “Hopefully within the next six to 12 months, the animals will be in their permanent habitat.”

Cage added that the Hancocks now face a financial obligation to the city of Page but are negotiating with them through legal council to resolve the issue.

Watch for more coverage in upcoming issues of Today in Dixie.