Stanley the Nubian giraffe arrives at Longleat to breed
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- Longleat Safari Park welcomed three-year-old Nubian giraffe Stanley on Wednesday as part of an international effort to safeguard the critically endangered species, of which fewer than 500 are estimated to remain in the wild.
- Stanley currently stands at nearly 4m (13ft) tall, with male Nubian giraffes capable of reaching up to 6m (20ft) — the tallest of all giraffe subspecies.
- Longleat lost its previous bull Thorn in 2024, who fathered 29 calves over the course of his life and served as a cornerstone of the European Endangered Species Programme.
- Darren Beasley, Longleat's head of animal operations, said the park — home to nine female Nubian giraffes all born on-site — had been 'one of the most successful hubs' for the species' breeding programme.
- Visitors can see Stanley and the existing herd on Longleat's Drive Through Safari, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026.
Why it matters: With fewer than 500 Nubian giraffes left in the wild, every managed breeding pairing matters for the subspecies' survival. Longleat's nine home-bred females now have a new bull to continue a programme that previously produced 29 calves under Thorn, making the park one of Europe's most consequential hubs for the species.
