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16 June 2022 MANDIBULAR FRACTURES IN GIRAFFES (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS) IN EUROPEAN ZOOS
Laura Remport, Viktória Sós-Koroknai, Márton Hoitsy, Endre Sós
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Abstract

Following a case of mandibular fracture in a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) at the Budapest Zoo, a survey was conducted across European zoological institutions with the support of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums Giraffe Ex situ Programme (EAZA Giraffe EEP) to help identify the incidence, potential causes, and management of such injuries. Two hundred sixteen zoos keeping giraffes were invited to participate in the survey. Eighty-six responses were received, 14 of which (16.3%) reported jaw fractures with various causes in their giraffes. Of these responses, hay racks, where the muzzle of the giraffe could fit between the grid of feeding contraptions, were associated with mandibular fractures in seven cases (50.0%). Most giraffes were managed surgically (10/14; 71.4%), two were managed medically (14.3%), one was euthanized because of the severity of the injury (7.1%), and one was only diagnosed with a mandibular fracture postmortem. One giraffe died owing to postanesthetic complications; all other individuals had a full recovery. Most mandible fractures occurred in relatively young giraffes (between 5 wk and 8 yr with an average of 3.4 yr). Based on these findings, facilities with giraffe should evaluate their hay feeders for mandible entrapment risk, especially if they house young individuals.

Copyright 2022 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Laura Remport, Viktória Sós-Koroknai, Márton Hoitsy, and Endre Sós "MANDIBULAR FRACTURES IN GIRAFFES (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS) IN EUROPEAN ZOOS," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 53(2), 448-454, (16 June 2022). https://doi.org/10.1638/2021-0007
Accepted: 23 January 2022; Published: 16 June 2022
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