LONDON ZOO, UK

SV ZOOM Monty in crate 0.15
CU Monty's name on crate reading "London Zoo to Whipsnade Park" 0.17
CU Monty looks at sign and licks it 0.30
SV, GV A fork-lift truck loads the giraffe onto a trailer (3 shots) 0.57
CU London Zoo sign on gate 0.59
GV PAN Lorry and covered crate 1.07

Background: LONDON ZOO, UK

INTRODUCTION: A very tall Londoner has just left home to start a new life in another part of Britain, Monty, a two-year-old giraffe, left London Zoo on Tuesday (21 July) for Whipsnade Park where he'll join two of his giraffe friends -- Helen and Cloudy -- who were also born at London Zoo's famous giraffe house.

SYNOPSIS: Monty, who's about 11 feet (about 3 1/2 metres) tall, got used to his travelling cage several days before his first journey into the country. Luckily he has a very placid nature, and the move brought no problems for him.

Monty's father was born in London in 1964, and his mother came from Bristol Zoo in 1971 -- both a generation away from their native East African origins.

Once settled inside the crate, Monty was lifted by a fork-lift truck onto a trailer and the journey to Whipsnade Zoo was underway. Behind him Monty left his father Robbie and his other London companions.

And he won't see any more of the rare okapis and zebras living in the paddocks and dens next door.

Monty will now live outside most of the time, although he'll be back indoors by winter.

Source: REG SMITH