Two giraffes have arrived at a wildlife park in Cumbria after narrowly escaping the floods that hit central Europe.

Rothschild's giraffes Twingo and Itongo are settling in at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton-in-Furness.

They were transported by road and ferry from a zoo outside Prague, where many animals died because of the floods.

Their 33-hour journey needed careful planning to avoid waterlogged roads.

Endangered species

David Gill, director of the animal park, said: "The giraffes have arrived and are settling in well with the other giraffes we have here.

"These very rare Rothschild's giraffe are the latest endangered species to join the ranks of the zoo's special animals.

"There may be only 40 Rothschild's giraffes in the wild today.

Breeding programme

"These two giraffes may not be alive if they had not left Prague when they did."

The new arrivals, who will grow up to 19 feet tall, have joined four other giraffes, including two brought over from Prague Zoo earlier this month.

The giraffes will form part of an endangered species breeding programme.