Longleat Safari Park welcomes hippo sisters
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.
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