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Article

Training a Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) for Voluntary Foot Radiographs at Dubai Safari Park

by
Demi Booth
1,*,
Amos Kamau
1,
Henry Kayondo
1,
Anna Mae Sumaya
1 and
Muhammad Waseem Ashraf
2
1
Zoology Department, Dubai Safari Park, Dubai P.O. Box 67, United Arab Emirates
2
Veterinary Department, Dubai Safari Park, Dubai P.O. Box 67, United Arab Emirates
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 688-698; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040051
Submission received: 27 October 2022 / Revised: 2 December 2022 / Accepted: 5 December 2022 / Published: 8 December 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Techniques Used to Improve Animal Health and Welfare)
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Abstract

When 0.1 Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) began displaying signs of lameness and a persistent swelling of the front left pastern joint, an operant based training program was created for front foot radiographs to diagnose and better manage lameness. Using a protected contact set up, behaviour was shaped using a positive reinforcement procedure. A series of cued behaviors were trained and used to obtain dorsolateral palmar medial oblique front foot radiographs to aid vets in diagnosing the cause of lameness. By training giraffes for foot radiographs, potential causes of lameness could be identified and better managed. Long-term, the results may help zoos identify best practices for managing and preventing lameness in giraffe and subsequently improve welfare. Training animals to participate in their own medical care can improve welfare by giving them a sense of control within the situation. Training for medical procedures helps to reduce the stress imposed on the giraffe and the associated risks compared to alternative methods.
Keywords: giraffe; operant training; foot radiographs; lameness; welfare giraffe; operant training; foot radiographs; lameness; welfare

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MDPI and ACS Style

Booth, D.; Kamau, A.; Kayondo, H.; Sumaya, A.M.; Ashraf, M.W. Training a Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) for Voluntary Foot Radiographs at Dubai Safari Park. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3, 688-698. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040051

AMA Style

Booth D, Kamau A, Kayondo H, Sumaya AM, Ashraf MW. Training a Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) for Voluntary Foot Radiographs at Dubai Safari Park. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. 2022; 3(4):688-698. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040051

Chicago/Turabian Style

Booth, Demi, Amos Kamau, Henry Kayondo, Anna Mae Sumaya, and Muhammad Waseem Ashraf. 2022. "Training a Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) for Voluntary Foot Radiographs at Dubai Safari Park" Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3, no. 4: 688-698. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040051

APA Style

Booth, D., Kamau, A., Kayondo, H., Sumaya, A. M., & Ashraf, M. W. (2022). Training a Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) for Voluntary Foot Radiographs at Dubai Safari Park. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 3(4), 688-698. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040051

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