Rare Rothschild giraffe arrives at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after 75-mile journey
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has welcomed a rare Rothschild giraffe after he travelled 75 miles from his former home at Twycross Zoo.
Setanta, a 15-year-old Rothschild giraffe, travelled 75 miles from the East Midlands to his new home in Doncaster aboard a specialist giraffe transporter.
He walked calmly out of the transporter and straight into the giraffe house, where keepers had prepared fresh branches for him.
The 15-year-old was bred at Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland and is named after a legendary Irish warrior.
Head of Hoofstock Kyrie Birkett, who travelled to Twycross Zoo ahead of the move to get to know Setanta, said: “He is quite a calm and steady character and is very food orientated.
“We have swapped notes with his keeper, who has looked after him for the past 10 years.
“I think he is going to be a big hit with visitors. We will introduce him to Jambo and Jengo over the next couple of days and hope that he will settle well as he has been in a bachelor group previously.”
The arrival also marks a reunion with Yorkshire Wildlife Park's animal director Dr Charlotte MacDonald, who previously worked with Setanta at Twycross Zoo and was there to welcome him when he arrived there in 2015.
Dr Charlotte said: “I’m delighted that Setanta has arrived safely in Yorkshire.
“It feels like a full circle moment getting to work with him again and I am really happy to see him.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is home to two subspecies of giraffe – Reticulated and Rothschild, also known as Nubian giraffes.
Dr Charlotte said: "You will find two subspecies of Giraffe at YWP: Reticulated and Rothschild also known as Nubian giraffe.
"Reticulated giraffes are native to Somalia and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya, while Rothschild giraffes like Setanta are native to Kenya as well as Uganda."
Rothschild giraffes can be identified by markings that stop at the knees, giving the appearance of white stockings.
They are also the only giraffe subspecies to have five ossicones, the horn-like structures on their heads.
There are thought to be around 1,100 Rothschild giraffes remaining in the wild.
Dr Charlotte added: “We’re excited for him to explore the outside savannah area in Into Africa with his neighbours the Grevys Zebra, Eland Antelope and Forest Buffalo once he is used to his surroundings.
“Visitors will be able to see him in the Giraffe house and in the adjacent sand yard almost straightaway.”