Rhino pampering, giraffe pedicures, penguin weigh-ins... it's new year check up at Chessington zoo
Rhino pampering, giraffe pedicures, penguin weigh-ins... it's new year check up at Chessington zoo
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He may be built like a tank and weigh more than a pick-up truck, but even Gyasi the rhino knows when he needs some tender loving care - so the two tonne beast stands stlil, as I cover his front horn with moisturiser. Giraffe Kito, meanwhile, also appreciates his pedicure, as I feed him his favourite carrot snacks - the towering 17-foot animal spends virtually all his time on his feet and even sleeps standing up.
Today was the new year animal check-up at Chessington World of Adventures zoo. And the Mirror was given an exclusive invitation to join the keepers as they weighed and measured, did health checks and gave treatments to the Greater London attraction’s 1,000 animals.
Before the pampering began, we had a task more reminiscent of an I’m a Celebrity trial to perform in the rhino enclosure …. We took a poo sample from Spud - at seven-years-old, he is the youngest of the zoo’s Southern White Rhinos. “He’s a teenager in Rhino years,” says keeper Leanne Pollicott. “Rhinos look like big scary animals, but they are actually big wimps. He’s easily startled if you make any sudden movements.
“Rhinos are really affectionate beasts, too. They’re basically two tonne Labradors.”. She adds: "Faecal samples can tells us a lot about how the rhino is and if he's picked up any infections. You just have to be careful when you collect it as rhinos can pee backwards and take you by surprise.".
