Captivity Giraffe's Behavior Observation In The Winter Of Changsha Ecological Zoo

Objective:Giraffe, the animal which lives in Africa, its feeding, drinking, defecation, urination, rest and regurgitate are under fixed laws in native environment. Most giraffes introduces into China's zoos are captive, only part of them are fed in a simulated field environment, where is relatively smaller than their original living place. Giraffes in zoos often resulted in accidental death, in year 2010 and 2013, Changsha Ecological Zoo also experienced giraffe deaths. Therefore, the purpose of this study is based on captive giraffes behavior observation system. By setting up their daily routine management program, we may ensure giraffes'health and welfare.Methods:Choosing the giraffe pavilion in Changsha Ecological Zoo as the research object, the whole event are recorded by all occurrence sampling method. A giraffe's eating, drinking, defecation, urination patterns along with the behavior of the cud are analyzed in a winter month. Its rest time length are analyzed, which is recorded by the target sampling method. Its average rest length in one day is recorded by classification sampling method. We also used the method of document to analyze the giraffe's daily rest regularity.Results:(1) the giraffe's feeding behavior mainly concentrates in daytime, there are two feeding peak:one during 10 and 12, another during 15 and 18; (2) the giraffe drinks in an average of 6.2 times a day, which consumes 1-2 kg of drinking water. Compared to the giraffe's body weight, daily drinking amount is small; (3) the giraffe's excretion is relatively fixed, the excretion region is obvious, but the time and number shows no pattern; (4) rumination behaviors are mainly concentrated in the early night (19 to 24); (5) the giraffe's sleep pattern is:less rest during the day, more during night. There are two peak times of lying down and rest, one during early night, another appears during 4:30 and 5:30. (6)we have discovered esophageal retardation during the observation, which is the first-ever reported in the country. Also, we observed the behavior of rutting giraffe fights and conducted appropriate treatments.