Giraffes could return to Edinburgh Zoo as early as next spring

The world’s tallest animals have a natural advantage when it comes to getting the best view – and giraffes at Edinburgh Zoo won’t need to crick their necks to enjoy some of the Capital’s most spectacular vistas, after details of their future hilltop home emerged.

The £2.8m state of the art giraffe house boasts the best views of the zoo (Pic: Saltire News)

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is proceeding with an ambitious plan to bring giraffes back to Edinburgh after an absence of 15 years.

Work had already begun on a £2.8m state of the art giraffe house and unique landscape for the animals at the popular attraction before the pandemic. Although work was delayed, it is now hoped that a herd of Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), could arrive as soon as next spring.

Gavin Whigham, head of property and estates at RZSS, said the animals, which can tower up to 18ft (5.5m) tall, will enjoy plenty of headroom indoors as the structure will range from 23ft (7m) to over 39ft (12m) in height. The house, made from steel frame with blockwork and insulated panels, will include raised feeding stations and a specially designed heating system.

Overhead walkways will ensure the lofty creatures – even calves are born 6ft (1.8) tall – won’t be required to stoop for health checks

Outdoors, the giraffes will roam around a landscape the size of a football pitch, which staff describe as having “the best views” at the zoo.

Mr Whigham said: “We have used the most modern giraffe enclosures as our inspiration and spoken to our colleagues at other zoos around the world to learn from them and to make improvements on their facilities where possible.”

Edinburgh Zoo was home to giraffes from as early as the 1930s, but the animals have been absent in recent years due to a lack of an appropriate sized enclosure to care for them.

The RZSS say many visitors have missed seeing the charismatic species, whose Latin name Giraffa camelopardalis, came about because they were once thought to be a cross between a camel and a leopard.

In the wild, giraffes are in decline with estimates of fewer than 100,000 left. The Rothschild’s giraffes, to be transported from another European collection, will represent one of the most endangered distinct populations, with only around 1,600 individuals left.

The Edinburgh project will help to educate visitors about the animals’ plight and help save them in the wild by funding conservation work in Africa.