Elephant Proof Galvanizing

Hereford Galvanizers have recently coated elephant sized fencing used to house the new resident at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall near Bristol.

Wyatt Construction of Llandrindod Wells were tasked with fabricating a specially designed set of large, heavy duty fence frames and structural steelwork for the 20-acre purpose-built Elephant Eden area of the Zoo Farm.

Adult African elephants stand up to four metres high and can weigh between 5 and 7 tonnes and so the Zoo Farm required something a little tougher than your average fencing system.

The largest of the fencing panels weighed in at over a tonne each and were approximately four metres square. These were Hot Dip Galvanized by Hereford Galvanizers to give the steel the protection it required from the elements and the elephants. Handling and coating dozens of these large panels presented a challenge with the frames needing to be ‘double dipped by depth’ (first one way up and then upside down) to ensure a complete galvanized coverage.

John Wyatt of Wyatt Construction said “We spent a great deal of time and care on this important contract and were confident that Hereford Galvanizers could handle something that was out of the ordinary. Even though some of the fencing frames are really large, Hereford Galvanizers took it all in their stride”.

The Elephant Eden area at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is the largest of its type in Europe. Buta, a 29 year old female African Elephant, was the first resident to arrive at the Zoo and will soon be joined by others in the £2 million project.   Elephants are of crucial conservation status with wild populations suffering from habitat loss and poaching. It is hoped that the Elephant Eden project will provide a sanctuary for a sustainable and happy herd.