Giraffe? It's the height of fine dining, says Hugh



Adventurous: River Cottage chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

When most people look at a giraffe they marvel at its extraordinary height and beauty.



Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on the other hand pictures a mouth-watering steak.



The TV cook found himself in hot water with conservationists yesterday after he admitted being partial to giraffe meat.



The 40-year-old, known for cooking squirrel, even goes as far as recommending the meat and said he would not rule out eating it again.



His comments came with stories of chomping on crocodile and bat, but animal campaigners blasted the River Cottage star as being 'totally irresponsible'.



The chef confessed in an interview that he would eat most animals but drew the line at endangered species like gorilla or polar bear.



He added: 'But I would not rule out, say, giraffe. They do eat it in certain parts of Africa, if it's killed responsibly.



'I've tasted giraffe and crocodile and I can highly recommend them.



'They were served up to me by local conservationists so I knew the animals were well-managed.



'In 1994 I went diving in the Seychelles and was keen to try out the local delicacy, curried fruit bat, but I couldn't find any.



'I returned later and it was well worth the trip, very tasty. They have been eating bat for centuries in the Seychelles, no one gets singled out for ridicule over there if they are seen eating a bat - they are all at it.'



On the menu: Giraffe is fair game for TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Fearnley-Whittingstall's reputation for eating unusual things was forged on TV, where he has dined on roadkill, earning the nickname Hugh Fearlessly-Eatsitall.



While giraffes are not endangered, animal welfare group Viva! criticised the chef.

Campaign manager Justin Kerswell said: 'I have never heard of anyone eating a giraffe in Africa.



'I think it's totally irresponsible that he said it, it is beyond the pale - we are talking about an animal that a lot of people love and see in the wild in Africa.



'Plenty of his fans hang on his words and you will get people now who will want to go out there and try it.



'The last thing wildlife needs is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall encouraging diners without principles to treat the rest of the world as a larder.



'Wild animals belong in the wild, not on people's dinner plates.'



International wildlife charity Born Free added that numbers of giraffes were in decline.



Chief executive officer Will Travers said: 'It's a responsible position being one of the country's leading chefs.



'Glamourising the eating of exotic animals may make for good copy but, more seriously, it could lead to increased and unsustainable pressure on wild animal populations.



'We should choose wisely. Food should not be a fashion, a fad or a competition. Leave giraffe and other wild animals off the menu.'