Feeding practices for captive giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Europe: a survey in EEP zoos
As with other browsing ruminants, the nutrition of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) can be challenging. Feeding browse in very large amounts is not feasible. Therefore, substitutes need to be provided that have to meet requirements and the species’ digestive capacity to the greatest possible extent. To achieve a comprehensive overview of current giraffe feeding practice in Europe, a survey was conducted among 153 member zoos of the European Endangered Species Programme. Information from 81 returned questionnaires showed a considerable variety of