To give giraffes “manicures”, you have to start when they are babies!

In the previous sharing, we discussed in detail the hoof trimming experience of Christmas the Giraffe (Christmas walks more comfortably~), and successfully completed this important care process through physical restraint. The significant changes before and after hoof trimming - the contact angle between the distal metatarsal bone of Christmas's left front foot and the ground was optimized from 23° to 13°, which not only improved its joint flexibility, but also significantly enhanced the comfort and safety of walking. This case fully demonstrates the importance of hoof care in improving the quality of life of animals.

Hoof health is to ungulates what roots are to trees, supporting their survival and mobility. Ignoring hoof problems can lead to a series of chain reactions, from initial difficulty walking to abnormal gait, and ultimately to serious joint diseases that affect the overall well-being of the animal. Therefore, continued attention and professional care for the hoof of animals is an integral part of maintaining their health.

In view of the positive results of Christmas hoof trimming, we deeply realized that hoof trimming should be done early and education should start from childhood. We started behavioral training for hoof health checks on Xiaoqi when he was two years old.

Through patient training over time, Xiaoqi's hoof health checks have become smoother and more efficient.

PART 01 Education should start from childhood

Our giraffe Xiaoqi started receiving behavioral training for hoof trimming when he was two years old. He was required to stay still while his hoof nails were being polished in order to complete a foot care.

Thanks to the positive behavioral training he received since childhood, Xiaoqi's training progress is rapid, and the hoof trimming process is relatively easy and enjoyable. It only requires the collaboration of the breeder and a professional hoof trimmer, one to guide and stabilize Xiaoqi, while the other concentrates on trimming and polishing the hooves.

First, we used a fire hose to make a special safety barrier, which served as a positioning mark for Xiaoqi and prevented direct contact between hard objects and Xiaoqi. We placed an alfalfa brick and a small pillow underneath as a hoof trimming pad to provide soft support for Xiaoqi's legs.

After Xiaoqi walked to the designated position, the breeder gave the instruction to lift his leg. Xiaoqi lifted his hoof as required by the breeder and stepped on the alfalfa bricks below. The entire hoof trimming process officially entered the core stage.

At this time, the hoof trimmers quickly and carefully conduct a comprehensive observation and assessment of Xiaoqi's hooves, such as whether the hoof nails are too long, cracked, or at risk of infection. The trimmers will take appropriate measures based on the findings.

In view of Xiaoqi's specific situation, the left and right hoofs of Xiaoqi's right front hoof were asymmetrical, and the right hoof was slightly deformed, resulting in a smaller hoof gap. We first used a file to finely polish along the hoof gap to widen the gap, so that the pressure distribution of Xiaoqi when walking is more even, thereby reducing the potential risk of injury.

Next, through the trust and tacit understanding established during training, guide Xiaoqi to curl his hooves with the bottom facing upwards.

Before hoof trimming

After hoof trimming

The sole of a giraffe's hoof is prone to accumulation of sand and water, and is a key area for monitoring hoof health. By carefully inspecting the hoof sole, you can find out if there are any trauma, foreign objects, or fungal infections. If necessary, use a scraper to clean it, keep the hoof sole dry and hygienic, and further consolidate the overall health of the giraffe.

Xiaoqi's hoof X-ray

Through such trimming, Xiaoqi's hooves will be able to better adapt to the ground, not only making it more comfortable when walking, but also promoting the natural wear of the hoof nails, keeping them healthy and functional.

Through this steady and daily maintenance strategy, we focus on the long term and lay a solid foundation for Xiaoqi's future walking well-being. It is also a vivid practice of the purpose of International Giraffe Day - through daily care and scientific management, to enhance public awareness of the unique needs and protection of giraffes.

PART 02 When the “longest” meets the “highest”

June 21 is the summer solstice, the day with the longest daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, this day is also given another important meaning - World Giraffe Day. This festival was first established by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to raise people's support and awareness and to shed light on the challenges faced by giraffes in the wild.

According to the GCF, there are only about 117,000 giraffes left in the wild, meaning they are approaching high-risk status.

Giraffes were recently listed as "vulnerable to extinction" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - their numbers in Africa have plummeted by around 40% in the past three decades alone.

The decline in giraffe numbers is largely due to the increase in human settlements and loss of habitat. It would be a tragedy if giraffes became extinct in the wild. They are unique in the animal kingdom with their long necks and beautiful markings. Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world, and the markings on each giraffe are different, just like two people's fingerprints are not exactly the same.

More than seven African countries have officially declared giraffes extinct, highlighting the importance of protecting giraffes

The protection of biodiversity has never been an isolated battle, but the result of cross-disciplinary and cross-field collaboration. The protection of each type of life is a call for collective wisdom and cooperation, reminding us that the road to nature protection is long and arduous, and it takes everyone to make the flames burn high.

In this context, giraffes, the graceful giants of the earth, should not become a landscape that disappears in silence. Their existence is not only a symbol of the wonders of nature, but also an indispensable part of the balance of the ecosystem.

We call on everyone: Please do not let giraffes disappear quietly from our lives. It is time for us to take action, pay attention to them, protect them, and practice caring for and protecting giraffes with practical actions, so that every bit of attention can turn into warm sunshine to illuminate their future path.