Paignton Zoo's giraffe house given new lease of life ahead of reopening this weekend
The building has been closed to the public for sometime while updates were being made
Paignton Zoo's newly refurbished Giraffe House will fully reopen this weekend.
It's been half empty since the passing of Duchess the elephant back in 2019 - and currently closed to the public.
Stephen Kings, Chief Executive Officer for Wild Planet Trust, said: "We are incredibly pleased to be able to re-open the Giraffe House to our visitors.
"This project, along with our fundraising campaign to re-open Crocodile Swamp, reflects our dedication to engaging with our community and the feedback we’ve received.
"The new panelling also gives us the opportunity to share some of the important conservation work we’ve been doing overseas, which is something our visitors have expressed an interest in learning more about.”
He added: "Paignton Zoo is home to five female giraffes: Janica, Otilie, Joanna, Eliska, and Florrie. The Giraffe House, which used to also house the zoo’s elephants, has undergone number of renovations over the last few weeks. The refurbishment includes the replacement of the bridge and walkway, allowing visitors to once again see the giraffes at eye level.
"The re-opening ceremony will be officiated by one of Paignton Zoo’s long-standing staff members, Bryan Raynes, who has dedicated many years to working with both the giraffes and elephants. "
The ceremony will take place at 10:30am on Saturday, October 26 with everyone at the zoo - including visitors - invited to attend.