Edinburgh Zoo giraffe statue on Calton Hill temporarily removed after it was torn off its base and damaged

Edinburgh Zoo have urged locals to be gentler with the giraffe statues dotted about the Capital, after one was badly damaged.

The giant orange giraffe statue on Calton Hill was left lying on its side on the ground, after it was torn off of its concrete base.

Edinburgh Zoo took to social media to update locals, writing: “Stand Tall For Giraffes has been taken off the trail temporarily whilst our statue vets work their magic to repair some damage…

“Gentle reminder to protect, value and love our herd while they’re out on the capital’s streets this summer.”

Stand Tall For Giraffes, which can be found at the top of Calton Hill, was designed by Loïs Cordelia, who hoped to celebrate wild giraffes in Uganda.

Its orange colour represents Ugandan sunsets, while the patterns on the statue are adapted from authentic Ugandan fabrics, reflecting the vibrant colours of the country.

In July, over 40 eight-foot-tall giraffe sculptures hit the streets of the Capital, as part of Edinburgh Zoo’s Giraffe About Town trail. The trail was created to help the city recover after the pandemic.

The statue was removed by Edinburgh Zoo, after it was badly damaged. (Photo credit: RZSS)

Each giraffe model was individually designed by artists and communities to help celebrate Edinburgh’s heritage and cultural diversity.

The giraffes will be on display until August 29. Afterwards, they will be brought together for a final farewell weekend at the zoo in September.

After the trail ends, the sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closures of Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park for five months, costing the wildlife conservation charity over £1.5 million.