Giraffe: Field Anesthesia Studies

Anesthesia in Captive and Free-Ranging Giraffe

The historical high morbidity and mortality (>10%) encountered during giraffe anesthesia leads to a hesitancy to anesthetize them.  Giraffe anesthesia remains a major challenge due to their unique anatomy and physiology, which predisposes to anesthesia-related problems.  In collaboration with South African National Parks, Smithsonian’s Conservation & Research Center, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and several South African wildlife veterinarians, Gilman International Conservation and White Oak Conservation Center are working to develop a safer and more effective anesthetic protocol for field translocation of giraffe. 

This three-year project, funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, is evaluating a combination of Thiafentanil-Medetomidine-Ketmine for both helicopter and ground darting of giraffe in the field.  Besides looking very promising for field use, this drug combination is proving to be very useful for immobilization of captive giraffe for a variety of procedures.  Included in this study was the design and implementation of a field respirator that could be used on giraffe.  This respirator incorporates a leaf blower to provide pressurized air to ventilate giraffe or other megavertebrates in the field.