As the highest things often catch our attention, like the tallest building, the tallest person, or… the tallest animal! The world’s tallest animal originates from Africa, and Somalis call it “Girin,” which sounds similar to “Qilin” (a mythical creature in Chinese culture). Its towering presence always draws everyone’s gaze—have you guessed it? The answer is the giraffe!

It’s said that over two thousand years ago, Julius Caesar brought giraffes back from Egypt as gifts, even pitting them against lions in the Roman Colosseum! In the 15th century, the Sultan of Egypt transported giraffes from Africa to Florence as a gift to the Medici family, hoping that they could later start their trading business.

Turning our lens to the East—when Zheng He’s fleet first arrived in Bengal, they were astonished to see giraffes, exclaiming, “Could this be the legendary Qilin?” Later, during his seven voyages, Zheng He discovered many exotic animals like zebras, lions, and oryxes, deciding to bring them back as tributes. The emperor was delighted, believing it to be a heavenly sign of good fortune, praising the giraffe as exceptional!

Imaging how people transport the animals from continent to continent hundreds of years ago? Standing over 4 meters tall, what kind of ship could accommodate giraffes onboard? Welcome to visit the Evergreen Maritime Museum to uncover more fascinating creatures on these voyages!