Giraffe are known to be subject to many behavioural abnormalities in captivity that are linked with inferior nutrition and a lack of stimulus to travel and browse (Baxter & Plowman, 2001). A combination of hay with compounded feeds does not adequately replicate the wild diet (Baxter & Plowman, 2001). As a consequence of a substandard diet, pathological changes can occur in the animal which may lead to ‘peracute mortality syndrome,’ particularly when combined with additional stresses (Fowler, 1977; Junge & Bradley, 1993)
