Glenmorangie helps giraffes take over Edinburgh

In honour of the giraffe, its brand symbol, Glenmorangie is throwing its support behind a trail of towering giraffe sculptures taking over Edinburgh next summer. The Highland single malt Scotch whisky will be the official presenting partner of Edinburgh Zoo’s Giraffe About Town trail, in which a herd of more than 40 eight-foot-tall giraffe models will be placed around Scotland’s capital from 1 July to 29 August 2022. Designed to help the city recover following the pandemic, the trail will also raise vital funds for the wildlife conservation charity.

The giraffe has long been a beloved symbol of the Highland Distillery. The same height as a giraffe, its stills allow more space for taste and aroma. But giraffes face serious threats in the wild, from poaching to habitat loss. Numbers have fallen almost 30% in just 30 years, with some populations now critically endangered. In 2020 Glenmorangie forged a pioneering conservation partnership with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to protect giraffes in the wild and provide a habitat for the animal at Edinburgh Zoo, who welcomed its new herd in May 2021.

Next year Glenmorangie, will increase awareness of the challenges facing giraffes in the wild and help reinvigorate the city, by supporting Edinburgh Zoo’s unique sculpture trail. Displayed in neighbourhoods across Edinburgh around the city’s festival season, each model will be designed and decorated by artists and communities to celebrate Edinburgh’s heritage and cultural diversity. As Giraffe About Town’s official presenting partner, Glenmorangie will also support a series of events for adults celebrating giraffes, to be held at Edinburgh Zoo.

David Field, RZSS Chief Executive, said, “Following a wonderful welcome for our real-life giraffes in their new hilltop home at Edinburgh Zoo, we are delighted Glenmorangie will be supporting our wildlife conservation charity as we inspire local people and tourists to fall in love with Edinburgh all over again. After the immense challenges we have all faced over the last year, Giraffe About Town will encourage people to get out about town and explore these beautiful sculptures while supporting the recovery of our city and helping to protect animals in Scotland and around the world.”

Thomas Moradpour, President and Chief Executive of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “Our whisky owes its delicious taste to our giraffe-high stills, so we are committed to helping conserve this endangered animal for the future. Through our conservation partnership with GCF and RZSS, we are delighted to support Edinburgh Zoo’s Giraffe About Town trail around Edinburgh, where we have our head office. I look forward to enjoying the sculptures and events next summer, as we do all we can to celebrate this magnificent creature and raise awareness of its plight.”

Potential sponsors for the project can find out more about how to get involved at edinburghzoo.org.uk/GiraffeAboutTown