The stranded giraffes being rescued by raft

Giraffes are being rescued using a specially constructed raft after the peninsula in Kenya where they live was cut off by flooding, forming a new island.

The animals are rare Rothschild's giraffes which used to be common in the Western Rift Valley. But now there's estimated to be only 2,000 left on the African continent, and only about 800 in Kenya.

The rescue operation is being conducted by the Kenyan Wildlife Service with the charity Save Giraffes Now.

It's President, David O'Connor, spoke to Newsday.

(Photo and video credit: Tyler Schiffman/Ami Vitale/Save Giraffes Now)