• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.297-300
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• 2010

A female reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), 20-month-old, 342 kg, died at Seoul Zoo on January 2, 2009 after a stressful episode of chronic diarrhea. Given the appearances postmortem, it was strongly suspected that the giraffe suffered from malnutrition for a long time. Typical appearances of serous fat atrophy were shown on most fat tissues of body organs such as heart, bone, liver, mesentery and kidney. In this study, the sudden death that had been known as "peracute mortality syndrome" was clearly identified to have resulted from a lack of understanding the Browser's diet and general failure in giraffe husbandry. Individualized care and high quality hay must be provided to compensate higher consumption of metabolic energy and to prevent animal loss in winter season.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2010

Two male reticulated giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), 21-year-old, died of nutritional deficiency that primarily caused by serious tooth wear at Seoul Zoo in winter. A 970 kg-weighed giraffe showed tooth wear of premolars, molars and incisors at necropsy. A foreign body in the rumen, congestion and ulcer of abomasum and duodenum were also observed. Mild appearance of serous fat atrophy in pericardial sac suggests that lack of nutritional intake caused by tooth wear can become harmful enough to threat life. At the necropsy of a 1,290 kg-weighed giraffe, a large quantity of sandy soil were found in the rumen which would stuck the pathway of well-fermented ruminal contents at esophageal groove. Nutritional deficiency could be suspected to urge this giraffe to graze grass on the ground along with sandy soil. Secondarily, the soil damaged teeth and become a culprit making irregular tooth wear and mild serous fat atrophy. Nutritionally good care of geriatric animals is needed especially for browsing animals like giraffes and critically in winter season.