Despite a rake of cuts to the defence forces budget in Austria, the army hasn’t yet resorted to the conscription of Vienna’s giraffes. Instead, the army has opened its doors to the animals from Schönbrunn Zoo while their enclosure is being renovated.

Built in 1828, the giraffe enclosure hasn’t been updated in almost two centuries, and is earmarked as the final project in a series of renovations carried out over the past number of years.

Yesterday, the Schönbrunn Zoo revealed that its four giraffes will be housed on site at the Maria Theresa army barracks for the next two years, while their enclosure gets a complete overhaul.

Defence minister Gerald Klug said "The Army is ready for battle", offering the giant African quadrupeds a large meadow for grazing and exercise. But the upkeep of the giraffes will still be carried out by their regular keepers, as the army barracks is located very close to the zoo.

"If we have ways to help, then the Austrian Army has always been standing at the ready to provide active contributions within the framework of our forces," the defence minister added on Friday. 

"We are very grateful that there is an alternate enclosure near us. The advantages are that the transport would be very short and the giraffes could continue to be looked after by our keepers," zoo director Dagmar Schratter said in a press release.

According to reports, the army will receive €9,900 per year as rent - although this is unlikely to help with its pressing budget worries. Earlier this month, the Austrian government decided to close down 13 army barracks, eliminate five of its nine army bands, reduce its armory and arsenal, and would cut almost 6% of personnel in a move to save €200m.

Animal lovers can be happy that the Vienna zoo is at least not resorting to the same measures taken by a Swiss park, which recently revealed it serves meat from animals it can no longer house to visitors in its canteen.