A Tall Order for Cotswold Wildlife Park!

Cotswold Wildlife Park is delighted to announce the arrival of three male giraffes.

Century (four years old) and Koife (nine years old) have just arrived from Colchester Zoo while Wallace (three years old) has travelled from Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park in Scotland. They are spending a few days out of the public gaze, while they acclimatise to their new surroundings, but visitors will be able to see them soon.

The Park has accepted the three males as part of an international breeding programme. Male giraffes ("bulls") are often difficult to place as a herd can contain several females but only one breeding male.

"We’re delighted to welcome these magnificent and fascinating animals. The bulls are an ideal species to complement the natural landscape of the Park and we look forward to helping them settle into their new environment," says Jamie Craig, Curator of Cotswold Wildlife Park.

The giraffes were transported from their previous homes in a specially designed truck and trailer. The trailer allows them to stand comfortably while cameras in the truck mean the drivers can keep an eye on their precious cargo.

Louise Peat, Registrar at Cotswold Wildlife Park was responsible for their safe arrival. She explains: "Giraffes are one of the most difficult animal species to transport as you need to plan well in advance to avoid low bridges and obstacles. We brought in a Dutch animal transport firm, EKIPA, to help. With many years’ experience and the latest high tech equipment we knew the boys would

arrive in style."

The giraffe is regarded as being amongst the largest, strongest and the most peaceful animals on this planet.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for frequent updates and photos.

Additional information:

The giraffe is the tallest of all land-living species.

The coat pattern on each giraffe is unique.

Despite its very long neck, the giraffe has the same number of cervical vertebrae as a human being.

A giraffe’s kick is so strong it can kill a lion.　

　

Summer Events: Birds of Prey Demonstrations all weekends in August and over the Bank Holiday and Reptile Awareness Days all Sundays from 2pm-4pm (weather permitting) in the Courtyard Tortoise enclosure.

Cotswold Wildlife Park opens its doors at 10am every day with last admission at 4.30pm

 

WIN...WIN...WIN...

For a chance to win a family ticket to visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park during the October half-term, just answer this question:

What is the tallest land-living animal?

A) Elephant B) Giraffe C) Llama

Complete the entry form on our letters page, or email your answer along with your name and contact details to us here:

Michelleandnicky@cotswoldfamilylife.co.uk  

 

Two New White Rhino Girls out for a run. The girls arrived in October 2009 from South Africa. Bull our remaining original rhino  died in January. He had been at the Park since approx 1972 so he had had a long and happy life.  The new girls join Monty, a young male we received last year from Knowlsley Safari Park. All three are currently getting to know each other in our newly refurbished Rhino House.		Zebra Foal Doing Well The Zebra herd has at last begun to increase with the arrival of a male foal born on the 4th of December to proud parents Dampy and Xena. He has fitted in well with the rest of his herd and they can be seen grazing the African Paddock they share with our trio of White Rhino. We keep our fingers crossed for more births in 2010.		Sharapova, the only Wolverine to be found in England, awaits her new partner Sarka who is due to arrive at the park in May 2010.