ELEPHANT keepers at the West Midland Safari & Leisure Park are scaling new heights in a bid to keep their charges in trim.

They now have to regularly persuade the reserve's heavyweights to step on a set of super-sized scales so they can keep an eye on their eating habits and make sure they don't get too fat.

The weight-watching is part of a package of health care for the elephants.

The park also uses special giant x-ray and ultrasonic scanning equipment to detect any problems.

Elephants like two-ton Five normally eat up to 100lbs of food for supper, even after a full day grazing in the reserve.

Her three young pals, Latabe, Jack and Tooth, will weigh between 4.5 and 5 tons each once they reach adulthood.