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Iniko the giraffe moves 40-miles away to new home

Africa Alive Reserve Iniko the giraffe is pictured sitting in a grass field. She is looking at the camera. Other animals and pens can be seen in the distance behind her.Africa Alive Reserve
Iniko the giraffe has been moved from Africa Alive Reserve to Banham Zoo

A giraffe has been moved almost 40 miles (64.37km) to a new home at a zoo.

Africa Alive Reserve, in Kessingland near Lowestoft, Suffolk, said goodbye to Iniko the giraffe early on Friday.

She was transported via a specialised trailer to Banham Zoo in Norfolk which has two other giraffes.

Zoe Nunn, animal manager at Africa Alive, said Iniko would be able to enjoy more space at Banham Zoo.

"We have [Iniko's] mum and dad here so we're hoping to breed in the future," Ms Nunn explained.

"Iniko is going to go over to Banham where there's a little bit more space and then we've got mum and dad here so we'll hopefully have some more little baby giraffes in the future."

Both zoos are part of the Zoological Society of East Anglia and work closely together.

Darren Rozier/BBC Zoe Nunn with light brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a blue coat with a blue top underneath. She is standing in front of an animal enclosure which has a glass window front.Darren Rozier/BBC
Zoe Nunn said it took about 10 minutes to move Iniko into the trailer ahead of her journey

Iniko is four years old and was born at the park.

Her keepers have spent time ensuring she had been conditioned to the trailer she was transported it.

"It's a specialised trailer - it looks a little bit like a horse box but it has extensions which make the top go higher," Ms Nunn said.

"The transport people we have are specialised in giraffe moves across the world."

Darren Rozier/BBC A green tractor is pictured with a large white trailor on the back of it. It is being moved through a field. The trailer has a giraffe logo printed on it as well as a zebra. Darren Rozier/BBC
The specialised trailer can be adjusted in height to suit the animal

With the help of some treats, Iniko was easily moved into the trailer before she headed off to Banham Zoo.

"It happened very quickly. She was a little bit stubborn, but [with] encouragement from Emily and Lou she went in and she was a good girl," Ms Nunn said.

"The keepers are going to miss her, they work with her every single day and she was born here.

"But it's for the breeding programme and in the future, she may go off and have her own youngsters."

Darren Rozier/BBC A woman smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black beanie hat with a black snood around her neck and she is in a green coat and green jumper. Large fences can be seen behind her.Darren Rozier/BBC
Emily Payne helped moved Iniko into the trailer ahead of her journey

Iniko's keeper, Emily Payne, said Iniko was given some food in her trailer for her journey that would help keep her happy.

"We're really relieved that she's safely on her way," she said.

"It's always a little stressful moving a large animal but it was really nice to see how calm she was during the whole process."

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