Meeting the complex nutritional needs of captive giraffes while allowing normal feeding behaviors is a significant welfare challenge for zoos housing these unique megaherbivores.
Giraffe nutrition in captivity historically caused significant welfare problems when concentrate-heavy diets led to metabolic disorders, urolithiasis, and suboptimal health. The recognition that giraffes evolved as selective browsers rather than grazers has driven reforms in zoo nutrition programs. Beyond nutrients, feeding behavior itself is critical to giraffe welfare - these animals are highly motivated to spend many hours foraging, and barren periods between meals cause behavioral frustration. Providing browse in naturalistic positions requires facility design that accommodates the giraffe's unique height and biomechanics. Feeding enrichment programs that extend foraging time and complexity substantially improve giraffe welfare indicators.