Immobilisation protocols for wild giraffe (Giraffa spp.)- a review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Wildlife Biology
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Immobilising wild giraffes (Giraffa spp.) presents unique anatomical and physiological challenges.
• Field immobilisations are crucial for conservation, tourism, and veterinary interventions.
• Techniques have advanced from physical methods to chemical immobilisation using potent drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a comprehensive overview of historical and current wild giraffe immobilisation protocols.
• To serve as a resource for future research on best practices in giraffe capture.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of published literature on wild giraffe capture and immobilisation techniques was conducted.
• No restrictions were placed on the publication date of the reviewed literature.

Main Results:

• Giraffe capture techniques have evolved from physical methods in the 1950s to the use of high-dose opioids, often combined with alpha-2 agonists or tranquilizers.
• Significant reduction in mortality rates, from approximately 35% to under 1%, attributed to improved understanding of giraffe physiology and capture methods.

Conclusions:

• Ultrapotent opioids represent a paradigm shift in wildlife immobilisation, particularly for giraffes, drastically lowering mortality.
• A notable gap exists in physiological data concerning the impact of these drugs on giraffes during and post-immobilisation.
• Future research should prioritize measuring physiological variables to establish optimal protocols for wild giraffe immobilisation.