Hippos arrive at safari park after trip across Europe

Two young hippo sisters have arrived at a safari park after a 780-mile (1255 km) journey from the Czech Republic.

Four-year-old Matylda and three-year-old Manon were delivered to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire on Wednesday.

They are the first hippos the park has acquired in more than 40 years.

The park's two previous hippos - Spot and Sonia - both died at the age of 49 in 2024 and 2023 respectively.

Matylda, who weighs 990kg, and Manon, who weighs 750kg, were transported across Europe in specially-designed crates.

And it will not just be the two sisters at Longleat, as they are to be joined in the next couple of weeks by mother and son Lola and Hodor.

The park hopes to set up a breeding "pod" to boost conservation efforts.

Darren Beasley, Longleat's head of animal operations, said: "We are all over the moon to have hippos back at Longleat.

"We have all missed having this species on the estate after the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who had lived here for decades."

Mr Beasley said Matylda and Manon would spend the next few weeks getting used to their "state-of-the-art" enclosure and new keepers.

He said visitors to the park may spot them in their paddock during this time.

"The sisters have lived together all their lives, and we will slowly be introducing them to Lola and Hodor when they arrive with us shortly," Mr Beasley added.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.