Mwenzi (Friendly’s Character)

Mwenzi is a young male Masai giraffe and a member of the small bachelor herd of giraffes living just outside of the Imeatuka Desert.

Appearance
Despite the reputation giraffes have for being tall animals, Mwenzi is a diminutive and skinny for his species. His neck is about as short as that of a giraffe can be, and his body is small and bony. His face is stubby, with sharp features and widely-spaced cheekbones. He has a very light yellowish-brown coat that is covered with dull brown splotches. His underbelly and lower jaw are paler, and his muzzle is a dusty bronze color. His ossicones are a coppery brown hue, as is the thick, smooth mane that flops into his eyes and runs down his back. His sclerae are creamy yellow, while his irises are a bright blue.

Personality
Though not a very smart giraffe, Mwenzi is affable and companionable. He is unusually mature, behaving like an adult giraffe though he spends his time in a bachelor herd. He is not the most reliable of giraffes, as he can be forgetful and lose track of time. However, he is a true friend to his best pal Shingo. He often looks on the negative side of a situation, and there are none who would call him upbeat, but he is not openly pessimistic. He is not very creative, and prefers to remain safe and sound within his herd. He is very fair and it pains him to see any animals being mistreated. He is eager to find himself a mate, but is waiting until he is full grown to approach a female.

Early Life
Mwenzi was born just outside of the Drylands. He left his herd earlier than usual, but he was ready to face the world. He soon met a giraffe named Shingo, and they traveled together until they found a bachelor herd, which they joined.