Necking in prospect as Gerald the giraffe's loneliness ends

After an international search lasting four years Genevieve has moved from Eastern Europe to the UK to be the lonely giraffe's partner.

The unlucky-in-love giraffe has been desperate for a female companion and has struck up some unlikely relationships over the years at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, near Bristol.

Lanky Gerald – who is 15ft (4.6m) tall – developed a close bond with Eddie the goat, with the pair forming a strange "little and large" duo.

They could often be seen walking together, with Gerald sometimes leaning down to give his friend a nuzzle, then lying down for Eddie to climb on his neck.

Now Gerald will not have to bend down quite so far with the attractive Genevieve standing tall at 12ft (3.7m) high – only a few feet shorter than her six-year-old companion.

Other potential partners were ruled out because of Bluetongue regulations and foot-and-mouth in South Africa.