Yorkshire Wildlife Park celebrates Jambo the Giraffe's 7th birthday

Hundreds of visitors signed a giant birthday card which was made specially for one of the park favourites, Jambo who will be getting an extra treat of moving into a new giraffe reserve at the 100-acre park in the next couple of weeks.

Birthday boy Jambo is an endangered Rothschild giraffe whose numbers have dwindled to less than 650 in the wild. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation charity raises funds for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation as part of the international effort to save the species.

Britt Jensen, the Hoofstock Teamleader said:"Jambo is a real visitors favourite so it is wonderful to mark his birthday. We can't wait to see him and the other Giraffes out in their new reserve - it is the best birthday present he could ever have – but more importantly he is also helping to raise funds to help giraffes out in the wild and support the amazing work of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation."

The Park is also gearing up for the special summer events : Night in Africa where visitors will be able to enjoy after hours access to some of the world's most beautiful and at risk animals as well as African music, dancing acrobats, live performers, children's entertainment and special guests. There will also be a BBQ, face painting and story telling as well an extending programme of ranger talks.

The park, in Branton near Doncaster, is investing £3.6 million in 2016 to improve and expand the animal reserves and boost visitor facilities including the new Oasis Adventure outdoor play area as well as the new Masai Coffee House with 120 covers serving drinks and hot snacks.

“The visitor experience will be vastly improved by this major investment,” said YWP CEO John Minion. “We are constantly looking at ways to create the best environment for our animals and for our visitors to enjoy seeing them close-up.”

The park, the UK’s fastest growing and most innovative attractions, brings visitors almost face to face with some of the world's rarest and beautiful animals. It has a unique collection of animals including Amur Leopards and Tigers, Lions, the country's only four Polar Bears, Squirrel Monkeys, Marmosets, and many many more.'¨

For more information Yorkshire Wildlife Park