Meet the BFG

With his towering stature, Zulu the giraffe could be forgiven for acting a little loftily at times.

Estimated to be over 19ft, he is not only higher than a double decker bus or three men standing on each other’s shoulders – he is also thought to be the world’s tallest giraffe in captivity.

But despite leaving most things in the shade, 14-year-old Zulu is a ‘big friendly giant’ with a down to earth personality, according to his keeper Victoria Gittins. ‘He is very, very friendly – I would say just like the BFG – and loves to come over for a stroke,’ she said yesterday.

‘He’s a very chilled out guy.’

Measuring Zulu, who lives at Folly Farm zoo near Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire has so far proved to be something of a tall order, as catching him standing up perfectly straight has been impossible. Instead, his height has been estimated from the fact that his head just brushes under the 20ft doors to his enclosure, suggesting he is slightly over 19ft tall.

An adult male giraffe typically measures between 15-18ft and stops growing at around age ten, meaning Zulu won’t get any taller.

According to Guinness World Records, the tallest giraffe ever recorded was 19ft-tall George, who died in Chester Zoo in 1969.

© Daily Mail