Footcare for a giraffe is very important to its overall wellbeing, so keepers perform regular hoof trims. They have even trained many of the animals like Tessa to offer hooves voluntarily! Keepers Teresa and Melina work with Tessa to keep her healthy! The team works with the Zoo Hoofstock Trim Program to stay up on best practices and, on a recent visit, the hoofstock pros noted that the giraffe, okapi, and goats feet looked beautiful and we were doing a great job maintaining their hooves. Learn

We are back with more giraffe hoof care content, after the huge response to Oliver's hoof training & trim video on Monday! This time, we are at The Preserve Safari, across from Animal Adventure Park - home to Tajiri! Yes, "little" Taj is now a big bull too - and has advanced remarkably in his training also! While hoof trimming allows us to maintain proper pressure/position for the body (muscles, tendons & joints), veterinarians also need to see INSIDE, to best understand! Video is of Dr. Lacovar

🌿 The Incredible Feeding Secrets of the Giraffe 🦒 When you watch a giraffe feeding, you’re witnessing one of nature’s most extraordinary designs in action. Standing tall above the treetops, these gentle giants use their prehensile tongues—up to 45 cm long!—to skillfully strip leaves from thorny acacia trees without a single scratch. Their tongues are a striking dark blue-black color, helping to protect them from sunburn during hours of browsing under the African sun. With precision and grace,