Giraffes in captivity require specialized welfare management to address their unique anatomy, nutritional needs, and behavioral requirements.
Giraffe welfare in captivity presents unique challenges rooted in their size, behavioral repertoire, and social complexity. The 12-hour daily foraging period of wild giraffes cannot be replicated in captivity, but high-mounted browse and variable feeding enrichment can substantially reduce time spent in behavioral inactivity. Oral stereotypies — highly visible and persistent — indicate behavioral frustration that enrichment programs should aim to prevent. Foot health, often overlooked in large ungulates, is a significant welfare issue in captive giraffes given reduced movement on hard substrates.