What giraffe-specific welfare needs are most often unmet in captivity and how progressive zoos are improving their approach.
Giraffe welfare in captivity is constrained by the difficulty of replicating the physical and social complexity of their natural environment within the footprint and budget of even progressive institutions. Large exhibit size, appropriate substrate (deep sand rather than concrete), dietary browse variety and dynamic social grouping are the four most welfare-critical factors. Institutions that cannot meet minimum standards across these four domains should participate in managed breeding programme reviews rather than housing giraffes indefinitely in substandard conditions. Welfare-focused zoo staff increasingly advocate for evidence-based minimum space standards through EAZA and AZA welfare frameworks.