The effect of increasing dietary fibre on feeding, rumination and oral stereotypies in captive giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis)
Many captive giraffes perform oral stereotypies, in particular tongue-playing, licking of objects (including conspecifics) and vacuum chewing. Typically, the diet of these large ruminants in captivity consists mostly of food concentrates, which are consumed rapidly and do not provide stimulation for their long, prehensile tongues. In the wild, browsing requires extensive use of this organ […]
Note on sleep in captive giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)
The relatively small amount of time spent sleeping by giraffes, can be attributed most directly to the need for constant rumination. This is consonant with the more general ecological notion that sleep patterns in prey species are usually characterized by brief, intermittent periods of sleep.
Behavioral sleep in the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in a zoological garden
Behavioral sleep was assessed for 152 nights in 5 adult, 2 immature, and 1 juvenile giraffes at a zoological garden, using continuous time-lapse video recording. Sleep occurred while the giraffes were standing (SS) and in recumbency (RS). Paradoxical sleep (PS) was recognized by the peculiar positioning of the head on the croup and by phasic […]