Two female Kordofan giraffes have arrived at Twycross Zoo, completing what the zoo says is the only herd of this giraffe in the UK.
Eloise, 17, and Bonomanzi, 10, have been reunited with Gaya, male Kofi and one-year-old Floris, who arrived at the Midlands zoo in June. As of September 8, all five animals were together and settling into their new habitat.
The transfer required almost a year of planning and cooperation between specialists from several zoos. According to Twycross Zoo, only two specialist giraffe transporters are available in Europe, making the phased relocation of the five animals a particularly complex operation.
The vehicles are height-adjustable to allow giraffes to travel safely by road. The timing of each transfer was planned around the needs of the individual animals.
“We are so delighted that Eloise and Bonomanzi have arrived safely to their new home with us here at Twycross Zoo. This has been a huge team effort, and seeing all five giraffes together is a really special moment for everyone involved,” said Yianna Cooling, Assistant Curator of Mammals at Twycross Zoo.
“We’ve spent almost a year planning every detail of their move, working closely with colleagues across the UK and Europe to make sure the giraffes’ individual needs were considered, as well as the long-term plan for protecting the species.”
Fewer than 1,500 remain in the wild
The Kordofan giraffe is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Twycross Zoo reports that fewer than 1,500 individuals remain in the wild, where populations are threatened by human activities including oil drilling and illegal hunting, as well as conflict.
The five giraffes at Twycross Zoo are part of an EAZA Ex Situ Programme (EEP), a coordinated European initiative aimed at maintaining a healthy and genetically diverse population under human care.
“Getting them here safely is just the beginning. As part of a joint effort between European zoos, we’re helping to create a healthy, genetically diverse population that can act as a safety net for this critically endangered species,” Cooling said.
“With Kordofan giraffes facing such serious threats in the wild, maintaining a sustainable population in human care is an important part of the long-term effort to stop this species from disappearing altogether, and is one of the vital roles zoos play in global conservation.”
The arrival of Eloise and Bonomanzi completes the phased transfer that began with the first three giraffes during the summer. The five animals will now continue settling into their new habitat under the care of Twycross Zoo’s mammal and veterinary teams.
