South African 'Noah's Ark' brings animals home

Giraffes are lifted in a crane upon their return to Durban, South Africa, after a long sea voyage

DURBAN, South Africa -- It was a modern-day version of Noah's Ark -- 22 giraffes and three rhinoceroses recently completed a sea voyage lasting 40 days and 40 nights.

The animals were captured in Africa and shipped to Spain, where they were supposed to live out their days in zoos and safari parks. But Spanish authorities refused to admit the animals, concerned they might be carrying hoof and mouth disease, which has been raging in South Africa.

So, the animals were sent home.

VIDEO CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault explains why the animals were at sea Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Their unusual voyage left them none the worse for wear, except for having lost some weight.

Now, the animals' owners and shipping company are trying to figure out who will pay more than $500,000 in costs and what to do with the animals -- a problem that Noah never faced.

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