BILL AUSTIN, SDZ KEEPER
BILL AUSTIN, SDZ KEEPER
Above: The giraffe gets tasty treats while a keeper does a hoof trim. Left: A portable radiograph machine makes giraffe x-rays a snap!
of a large and awkward animal.” A healthy giraffe hoof is three to three-and-a-half inches from the coronary band (at the hairline) to the tip. Daily walking can keep the hoof filed down, but as animals get older and more sedentary, it can become necessary to give them
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a pedicure. Power tools from the dairy and horse industry are used, including clipping and sanding wheels and farrier tools like a rasp and hoof pick. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for giraffes, animals are exchanged with other accredited zoos to maximize optimum breeding opportunities. Following time in quarantine, the animals receive physical exams and necessary vaccinations in the familiar space of the chute. Should a giraffe become pregnant, she is closely monitored during her 15-month gestation period. One of the portals in the chute opens at giraffe belly height, and veterinarians can conduct an ultrasound as part of neonatal care. Another opening allows access to the giraffe’s rear end, so if her delivery requires assistance, animal care staff can intervene. Fortunately, there have only been two cases of a female giraffe needing assistance at the Zoo in the past 20 years.
WeIgHtY maTtERs
One of the easiest ways to monitor an animal’s health is by weighing it. Sudden or gradual weight loss can indicate a serious health issue, which most animals try to hide from their keepers (and predators) with great skill. But as we all know, the scale doesn’t lie. A metal floor can be added to the chute to record an animal’s weight. Silver, the towering male, weighs 2,585 pounds, while the smallest giraffe is a dainty 678 pounds. Veterinarians also use a mobile radiograph machine to take digital x-rays when needed. The giraffe chute is truly a blessing for the tall order of managing these majestic animals. n