Bakari and Kurtsie (05/18/2026)

I was channel flipping the other day, looking for something to watch for a few minutes while I took a break in my favorite chair with a glass of iced tea and the screen had a giraffe and a zebra together. I stopped. I love nature and animals, and I thought maybe that would be a good breaktime show. Turns out, the two have names and live in a theme park in Valdosta, Georgia. And they are inseparable. Bakari the giraffe tends to Kurtsie the zebra and the other giraffes and zebras are okay with it.

The relationship started in a mixed species habitat at the Wild Adventures Theme Park known as Giraffe Overlook. Bakari, a male giraffe was born in 2018 and took a noticeable interest in the zebra herd that shared the territory. Then, in 2023, he took a specific interest in the newest zebra born, her name was Kurtsie. And when the young Kurtsie was being bullied by the other zebras, Bakari ran interference and their bond grew closer. These days, the two walk together, groom one another, take naps side by side.

As I watched the special segment on this surprising pair, it struck me how as different as they are, these two understand sharing the journey. It gave me pause and hope. If a male giraffe and a female zebra can set down differences and establish a caring and enduring relationship, couldn’t we humans do the same only better? If these two could ignore the herd talk and focus on their friendship, couldn’t we humans do the same only better?

What was it that made the two open in the first place? Was it Bakari’s curiosity about zebras? Was it Kurtsie’s need for support? Was it the bigger looking out for the smaller? Or was it simply the two not letting differences separate them?

As we make our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us consider being open to the needs of others along the way who are different from us and let us seek to not let the differences be impediments to loving and giving relationships. Let us instead focus on our LORD, creator, Savior, and sanctifier who loves us all and calls us to love one another.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.