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Why did the giraffe walk from Grimsby to Skegness? Life-size puppet making long journey – and you can meet her!

Families can come and meet a life-size giraffe puppet – and decorate her – before she walks the distance from Grimsby to Skegness in aid of a wildlife charity.

Puppeteer Sebastian Mayer will be helping Zafara the giraffe make the journey in support of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (LWT). The giraffe is 3.4m tall and weighs 9kg, although Sebastian also carries 5kg of camping gear so that he and the giraffe can camp along the way.

Zarafa is made of carbon fibre with a cardboard skin, so that local people can draw and write messages on her as she goes along. Today, Sunday, April 14, children and adults are invited to come and meet Zarafa in Grimsby’s Victoria Street, from noon to 3pm, where they can paint on her hide to prepare her for the journey, beginning on Monday morning.

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Zarafa was created in 2023 by Sebastian and his girlfriend Daisy Beattie. Over ten weeks from April to June last year, Seb walked Zarafa 1,000km through France, following in the footsteps of a real giraffe who did the same journey in 1827, when she was gifted to the French king by the ruler of Egypt.

Sebastian said: “I am so proud of myself and Zarafa for finishing such an epic trek. It was a delight to have her as a travelling companion, she really helped break the ice in a foreign country.”



Puppeteer Sebastian Mayer with Zafara the life-size giraffe puppet
Puppeteer Sebastian Mayer has previously walked Zafara the giraffe 1,000km through France

The creation of the puppet and the walk through Lincolnshire is supported with funding from the Arts Council England. Sebastian said: “Walking is such a great way to improve our mental and physical health, and to forge a connection with nature.

“Charities like the LWT are instrumental in preserving and protecting our natural spaces for generations to come. Please chip in to make this adventure count.”

Sebastian added: “I am thrilled to be back on the road with Zarafa, this time taking on the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds and the renowned beaches of East Lindsey, although the weather will be a lot more challenging that what I’m used to, especially for a cardboard giraffe.” He hopes to complete the 85km in a week, arriving in Skegness on Sunday, April 21.

You can donate to Sebastian’s campaign via his JustGiving page.

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