Zoo & Captive Animal Welfare

Zoo Giraffe Feeding and Welfare

Giraffe dietary welfare in zoological collections requires provision of browse at appropriate heights, adequate quantity, and appropriate variety to meet nutritional and behavioural needs.

Key Facts

Giraffes spend up to 12 hours daily browsing in the wild
Inadequate browse provision causes stereotypic tongue movements and oral stereotypy
A variety of browse species is important for nutritional completeness
Feeding enrichment including varying browse locations reduces stereotypy
Ground-level feeding should be minimised as it places stress on giraffe musculoskeletal system

Welfare Considerations

Giraffe dietary welfare requires adequate browse at appropriate heights. Inadequate provision causes oral stereotypy that is a reliable indicator of poor welfare in this species.

What You Can Do

Support accredited zoos with comprehensive giraffe browse provision programmes
Advocate for browse variety and height requirements in giraffe welfare standards
Learn about giraffe dietary needs and the link to behavioural welfare
Support wild giraffe conservation in African savannah