Entertainment Swindon

The warm April weather means Longleat’s tower of giraffes has returned to the East African Reserve in the Wiltshire Safari Park in time for Easter.

The giraffes are kept indoors during winter for their own safety, and Longleat recently introduced state-of-the-art technology to ensure the temperatures inside their house are kept an even 22’C.

Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said: “The pictures show just how much they love to return to the reserve, it’s an amazing sight to see them gambolling like lambs as they run across the Park for the first time in the spring when they join the zebras and ostriches.

“They are native to the savannahs of Africa so it’s really important we monitor the temperature each day and around May when there are plenty of leaves to eat, we will also offer guests the opportunity to feed them from the pier overlooking the safari,” he added.

The giraffes can be seen during Easter at Longleat either in the drive-through reserve and from the African Village walkthrough area each day and the Park also offers VIP experiences with the opportunity to meet them in their House.

Factfile

Giraffe (Giraffa cameloparadalis)

A group is known as a tower

The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Their heights range from four to five and a half metres.

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