Meuffels Janine, Ververs Cyrillus, Pootoolal Jason, Zijll Langhout Martine van, Govaere Jan
Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
African Lion Safari, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5S2, Canada.
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2019 Mar 1;50(1):205-218. doi: 10.1638/2018-0016.
Giraffe in the wild are in ongoing decline because of poaching and habitat loss and fragmentation, and were recently assessed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. Captive breeding and saving each individual are therefore becoming more important to save this species from extinction. This paper describes the husbandry and diets of successfully hand-reared Rothschild's giraffes (; = 3) and reticulated giraffes (; = 2). All calves were initially fed with bovine colostrum followed by cow's milk (Holstein milk; Holstein milk with 10% of bovine colostrum; Jersey and Guernsey milk). Additionally, lactase enzymes (Lactaidt, Johnson & Johnson Inc., Guelp, Ontario N1K1A5, Canada) and probiotics (Probiost, Vets Plus, Inc., Menomonie, WI 54751, USA) were used. Average growth varied from 764 to 1,239 g/day from birth until 2 mo of age and between 508 and 1,161 g/day from birth until last measurement before weaning. Hand-reared calves gained up to 21 cm in height within the first month and 82-138% of their birth weight during the first 2 mo. The giraffes were weaned at 6 ( = 1), 8 ( = 3), and 11.5 ( = 1) mo and successfully socialized and introduced to other giraffes. The described diets and husbandry proved to be effective in all five calves. Large amounts of cow's milk per feeding (up to 6 L) did not result in gastrointestinal problems.
由于偷猎、栖息地丧失和破碎化，野生长颈鹿数量正在持续减少，最近在国际自然保护联盟（IUCN）濒危物种红色名录中被评估为“易危”。因此，圈养繁殖和拯救每一只长颈鹿对于防止该物种灭绝变得愈发重要。本文描述了成功人工饲养的罗斯柴尔德长颈鹿（n = 3）和网纹长颈鹿（n = 2）的饲养管理和饮食情况。所有幼崽最初都喂食牛初乳，随后喂牛奶（荷斯坦牛奶；含10%牛初乳的荷斯坦牛奶；泽西和根西牛奶）。此外，还使用了乳糖酶（Lactaidt，强生公司，加拿大安大略省圭尔夫市N1K1A5）和益生菌（Probiost，Vets Plus公司，美国威斯康星州梅诺莫尼市54751）。从出生到2月龄，平均生长速度为每天764至1239克，从出生到断奶前最后一次测量，平均生长速度为每天508至1161克。人工饲养的幼崽在第一个月内身高增长可达21厘米，在最初2个月内体重增长为出生体重的82 - 138%。长颈鹿分别在6个月（n = 1）、8个月（n = 3）和11.5个月（n = 1）断奶，并成功适应群体生活，被引入到其他长颈鹿群体中。所描述的饮食和饲养管理方法在所有五只幼崽身上都证明是有效的。每次大量喂食牛奶（最多6升）并未导致胃肠道问题。
