Environment / Animals
Three giraffes arrive at Wild Place
Three giraffes have arrived at Wild Place Project and they have brought the African weather with them.
Tom, Gerry and an as-yet unnamed giraffe, aged 18 months, two years and three years, are now living in a purpose-built home that is part of a 1.8 acre enclosure.
Located in Wild Place Project’s new Bénoué National Park exhibit, the giraffes’ new home is two storeys high with special viewing areas at ground and first floor level for visitors.
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The trio – who previously lived in zoos in Holland and Germany – were brought to the attraction near Cribbs Causeway in special six-wheeled trailers with a roof which could be raised to give them plenty of head room.
Before the arrival of the giraffes, experts from Bristol Zoo travelled to Cameroon to research and map the giraffes’ habitat and conduct a population census of some of the remaining Kordofan giraffe using drones.
Wild Place animal manager Will Walker said that the giraffes are settling in well. “The one from Germany is really inquisitive. I think he wants the company of the others who came from Amsterdam.”
It will be a few days, however, before members of the public will be allowed into the giraffe house in order to let the animals get used to their new surroundings.
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Wild Place head of operations Nigel Simpson added: “The giraffe arrival is a major step forward for Wild Place but it is also crucially important in the survival of these graceful animals.
“Kordofan giraffe are in very serious trouble in the wild with threats from habitat loss due to huge herds of cattle present in the area and poaching for bushmeat, these iconic animals are disappearing quickly and quietly towards extinction.
“If nothing is done to protect them, there is a real chance they will be lost forever.”
People can vote for their favourite moniker for the as-yet unnamed giraffe from a choice of Bem, Dayo and Lesedi by visiting www.facebook.com/wildplacebristol. The winning name will be confirmed after the weekend.
Take part in our reader survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/B247 to be in with a chance of winning a meal for two.
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