Multi-institutional survey of causes of maternal rejection in Giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis in North American zoos

Maternal rejection has been attributed to a variety of causes among wild mammals and those in human care, including dystocia, health concerns, primipary, inappropriate maternal care experienced by the mother as a calf and an inability to display natural behaviours, although the specific causes among Giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis have not been isolated. To address this, a survey was designed and disseminated using the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Giraffe Listserv. The primary objectives were to document the circumstances surrounding maternal rejection events and any resulting calf abnormalities. The survey focused specifically on previously documented rejection causes among other ungulate species, as well as commonly suggested causes based on anecdotal evidence. Among the responses from 36 institutions, 12 animals were reported as maternally rejected and nine were maternally separated. Participating institutions frequently cited human presence during labour and low birth weight among rejected calves. Many of the expected causes of maternal rejection, including medical concerns, maternal inexperience and labour duration, were not indicated as contributing factors among participating institutions. Likewise, survey respondents did not note any extreme behavioural differences among Giraffes that receive limited or no maternal care. This survey provides preliminary, descriptive trends; however, future studies should further investigate these relationships. These results may inform husbandry decisions and help avoid future rejection events.