Marwell Zoo giraffes use Wightlink life rings for snack bowls

Captain Sam Mitchell from Wightlink said it was a “real joy” to see the giraffes enjoying the rings.

“We always try to find a use for surplus materials rather than sending them away as waste,” he said.

Marwell Zoo initially contacted Wightlink to ask whether it had any surplus equipment that could be upcycled for use with its animals.

Keeper Erin Luter said the giraffes “loved” their new “fun snack feeders”.

She said: “Enrichment is incredibly important for encouraging natural behaviours and keeping our animals active and engaged, so it’s fantastic to be able to reuse materials in such a creative way.”

Wightlink has previously donated old supplies to Isle of Wight animal charities including the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, the Isle of Wight Monkey Haven and the Wight Squirrel Project, as well as Dorset’s Monkey World.

It said it had also contacted Amazon World to explore whether any surplus equipment could benefit animals there.