The future of a critically endangered species

Say hello to Stanley – our new Nubian bull giraffe.

He arrived at the Estate today and keepers are hoping for even more new arrivals in the future once he gets older.

Otherwise known as a tower of giraffe, the current giraffe group is made up of nine females, all of whom were born at the park as part of the European Breeding programme (EEP).

Stanley, who is almost four years old, arrived at the Park on Wednesday 10 June, and will be able to be seen by guests in the paddock adjacent to the giraffe house on the Drive-Through Safari to allow him and the girls to mix and get to know each other. The aim is for the tower to be back in the main reserve on Saturday 13 June. Giraffe feeding from the pier will not be available while Stanley settles in.

Darren Beasley, Head of Animal Operations, said “It’s fantastic to welcome a new bull giraffe to our herd with the prospect of once again helping the EEP.

“We sadly lost our previous bull, Thorn, in 2024, who fathered 29 calves in his lifetime. Longleat has been one of the most successful hubs for the breeding programmes of Nubian giraffes, so to start that journey again is a privilege.”

Nubian giraffes are Critically Endangered, with a decreasing wild population and only 455 mature individuals.

“Currently Stanley is a little young for breeding, as bull giraffes typically reach sexual maturity between four – five years old.

“He’s also still got some growing to do, as he currently stands around 3.5 - 4 metres tall, with bull Nubian's reaching 4.5 - 6 metres, the tallest of giraffe sub-species.”

Previously, the park’s giraffes were known as Rothchild’s giraffe, but recent scientific research reclassified them as the same sub-species as Nubian giraffe.

Stanley and the rest of the tower of giraffes can be seen on the Drive-Through Safari, which celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year.

For more information and tickets including reduced price Summer Savings tickets, please visit longleat.co.uk.