posted April 26, 2008 04:28 AM         

The webcam was set up recently by the BBC Bristol website at Noah's Ark Zoo farm in Wraxall.

But Gerald the giraffe, housed in the next pen along, had other ideas.

Owner Anthony Bush said: "I do apologise for Gerald, but he couldn't believe his luck. He saw this amazing webcam fruit within licking distance."

"He had nothing else to do all night and licked it until he destroyed it. I'm sorry it's in bits, I hope it's recoverable."

'Notorious lickers'

BBC website journalist Chris Kelly spent most of Friday trying to fix the device.

"We underestimated how long Gerald's tongue was, but you have to laugh. We've installed a new one - 6ft higher than the last one," he said.

Mr Bush said giraffes were notorious lickers.

"Visitors sometimes have their ankles licked. Gerald has a huge tongue."

posted April 27, 2008 02:33 PM         

That is funny!

Imagine their surprise, LOL!