Entertainment Swindon

It may be cold outside but for Longleat’s tower of giraffes, it’s positively balmy inside their Wiltshire home.

The estate has introduced state-of-the-art technology to ensure the temperatures inside the Safari Park house are kept at a cosy 22C.

The Hitachi Building Management System means keepers can monitor and change temperatures remotely 24 hours a day and receive alerts if there’s a sudden drop.

“Giraffes are native to the savannahs of Africa, so it has always been really important that we keep them warm during the English winters,” says Head of Animal Operations Darren Beasley.

“We have switched from traditional heating to the new system which is able to achieve an even temperature and includes thermal imaging to ensure we can identify any cold spots.”

James Dare, Head of Facilities, said: “It uses air sourced heat pumps and utilises low cost energy so is really efficient and sustainable.”

The giraffes are kept in a paddock close to their home during the winter months but will be take into the East Africa reserve at the Safari Park as soon as temperatures rise permanently in the spring.

Giraffe Trivia Giraffe (Giraffa cameloparadalis)

A group is known as a tower, the species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

Giraffes are herbivores and Longleat offers visitors the opportunity to feed them from the pier in the reserve during the summer months.

No two giraffes have the same pattern. Their patchwork coats also vary depending on their species. The Masai giraffe is darker with brown lines between its patches. The Reticulated giraffe has brown-orange patches separated by thick white lines. The patches of the Northern and Southern giraffes are more like splodges of paint. 

Male giraffes (called bulls) swing their long necks and butt heads to see who is stronger. This is known as “necking“ and most giraffes don’t get hurt doing it. Eventually one male will give up and walk away, probably to eat.

Giraffes prove that you can be super tall and super fast! They reach speeds of up to 60km/h over short distances. Predators beware! Giraffe kicks are powerful.