Whipsnade Zoo has taken delivery of two Ford Ranger Raptor pick-up trucks.
The high-performance off-road vehicles are being used by the zoo’s keepers to transport items including food and bedding around the site.
In addition, Ford will also be loaning sister attraction London Zoo a congestion charge and low-emission zone-exempt Transit Custom plug-in hybrid van in the new year.
Whipsnade Zoo chief operating officer Owen Craft said: “As an international conservation charity this year has been challenging for us.
“We have keenly felt the pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,?we and?our sister site London Zoo?were?forced to close for a total of 16 weeks each, putting us under huge financial strain and impacting our global conservation efforts.
“We are grateful to Ford for this loan, which is helping our keepers to care for some of the worlds most endangered animals.”