Ja Raffe traded to Utah

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - While we hope Ja Morant stays in Memphis forever, his namesake is headed toward Jazz nation.

Ja Raffe has been moved to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City.

The beloved giraffe, who’s now 10 feet tall, was named after Grizzlies star Ja Morant. The two had an adorable meetup in 2020 after the younger Ja’s birth.

Ja Raffe left Memphis on June 14 and arrived in Utah on June 16. Hogle Zoo will quarantine Ja Raffe for about a month before he meets his new family, two giraffes named Stephanie and Minka.

The Morant family even made a visit to the Memphis Zoo to say goodbye.

The Memphis Zoo says after male giraffes turn one year old, they must find a new home, with only one male giraffe per herd.

Ja was recommended to be a breeding male for the herd in Utah by the Species Survival Plan.

Species Survival Plans manage the breeding of a species to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable.

The overall population of giraffes has declined by 40% in the last 30 years, zoo officials say, in what’s been considered a “silent extinction.”

We wish Ja the best of luck in Utah!