23 South African giraffes flown into Yunnan

(ECNS) -- Twenty-three giraffes made a brave journey from South Africa to southwest China's Yunnan Zoo on Tuesday to start their new lives, Yunnan.cn reports.

Transporting the huge animals was not an easy job, as giraffes are fragile and sensitive animals, easily stricken by inadequate blood flow to the brain due to shock, the report said.

The giraffes were given special cages for the trip, with three to one cage, it said.

Although the giraffes had grown accustomed to the cages a month ago, their conditions were still unstable. A piece of thick black cloth covering the cages finally calmed them down.

After receiving an overall health check, the giraffes boarded the specially chartered Boeing 747 on Monday morning and landed in Yunnan Tuesday afternoon.

The zoo in Yunnan had prepared hay and special grass for the giraffes' arrival.

It was initially reported that 24 giraffes would arrive in Kunming, but one of them was unable to get into the cage.