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• The road to true love is never smooth but
Page 28
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rarely have star-crossed lovers had to enlist the help of 10 police forces up and down the country to measure each bridge between them and their passionate tryst.
Such is the tall tale of Danny the West Country giraffe (interests: eating leaves, standing up) and his estranged Blackpool half-sister, Judy (interests: similar; seeking tall partner).
Judy was born in Paignton Zoo but transferred to Blackpool Zoo as a baby — now the plan is to reunite the leggy twosome in the hope of continuation of the rare breed of Masai giraffes.
Problem is 13-year-old Judy is a big girl now — 4.5m tall in fact — and motorway bridges clock in at just under 5m. Allowing for even a very low, low-loader the 10-hour journey could be a bruising experience with Judy arriving in Devon to disappoint Danny with, "Not tonight dearest — I've got a headache".
Fortunately the RAC has put up 21,000 toward the cost of transportation and police forces up and down the M5 and M6 have been out with their tape measures along the 563krn route, The best bet may be A and B roads, although telephone lines may be a problem. Clearance at bridges could be as little as 70mrn.
In a curious turn of phrase, Paignton Zoo told the Hawk: "There's a lot of donkey work involved — but the Department of Transport has said we can do what we like, as long as we don't hit any bridges".
Even more bizarrely, Blackpool Zoo suggested that if a suitable land route cannot be found, Judy may travel by boat or helicopter. Helicopter? (Surely some mistake?).
At the time of going to press it was unclear which haulier will win the year's most curious contract, although Fox Brothers of Blackpool is certainly in the running.
The giraffe convoy leaves Blackpool Zoo for the M55 this Thursday (20 September) at 07:00hrs. It will stop at Strensham Services on the M5, so Judy can stretch her neck.