190 years of The West Australian: ‘The Kiss’ photo of Rothschild giraffe Makulu one of WA’s most important

It lasted for just a moment.

But it was a moment that resulted in a photograph that went around the world, and will last forever.

Even today there are West Australians who know exactly what you mean if you mention that photograph of “The Kiss” — when newborn Rothschild giraffe Makulu was kissed by his mother Misha at Perth Zoo on October 30, 1995.

The historic image is one of the pictures in The Most Important Photos, the second 48-page magazine in our four-part series celebrating 190 years of The West Australian presented by Roy Hill and sponsored by BHP and Rio Tinto.

The moment came about when a team from The West Australian, reporter John Townsend and photographer Ron D’Raine, were assigned to cover four-day-old Makulu’s first public appearance.

Years later Townsend described what happened.

After about an hour or so at the zoo, no picture was forthcoming.

“Misha appeared but was reluctant to leave her newborn and returned to their stall. Then Makulu wobbled out, and though the first glimpse of the youngster was thrilling, his first baby pictures were not special,” Townsend wrote.

“Misha eventually popped her head over her stall’s half-gate to keep a wary eye on her offspring and D’Raine captured the spotty duo in the same frame but they were a metre or two apart.”

Then, as Townsend spoke briefly with giraffe keeper Colin Wallbank the magic happened as D’Raine snapped away.

“Misha bent over, extended her long purple tongue and licked Makulu’s topknot.”

“It did not seem like much until D’Raine developed his film and The Kiss legend was born,” Townsend wrote.

Misha had arrived in Perth in 1991 from Orana Wildlife Park in New Zealand.

But having reached the ripe old age of 25 years and nine months, well beyond the average lifespan for a giraffe in the wild of about 17 years, the gentle giant was unable to hold off the advance of time and died in 2016.

Makulu, who moved to Melbourne in 1996, died in 2018.

This Saturday’s magazine is presented by Roy Hill, and sponsored by BHP and Rio Tinto. The four magazines highlight the most significant people, photos, headlines, and sporting moments since the first edition of our newspaper was published on January 5, 1833.