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WHAT SPECIAL CARE
DOES ZURI RECEIVE?
“Zuri has taught our Zoo team so much about animal care.” Explains
Keeper Ty, “As she gets older, we are working very closely with our
veterinary team to constantly look for new ways to improve her well-
being and monitor her health.”
Because she is considered an elderly gira e, Zuri receives special care
and attention from her keepers, including:
Beauty Sleep:
“Zuri sleeps in her own special space,” continues Keeper Ty, “so that
she can get as much rest as she needs without being awoken by the
other gira es.”
Physical Fitness:
“Being the tallest animal in the world at an advanced age can come
with some challenges, therefore, we ensure that Zuri gets in ample
movement throughout the day as a form of physical therapy,” says
Keeper Ty. This extra movement keeps her strong and healthy. “To
keep her movements more comfortable, she is also given a supplement
to support her joints.”
Monitoring Her Health:
It’s not just Zuri’s Keepers that keep a special eye on her, the Zoo’s Vet
Team also keeps an eye on this tall girl. “Zoo sta continually monitor
Zuri’s health to ensure that she is feeling her best.” Shares Dr. Kami,
the Zoo’s Veterinarian. “We check for a variety of behaviors, including:
ease of movement, posture, activity levels, and eating habits.” Just
like you and me, a lot can be learned by examining Zuri’s diet and this
allows her team to make sure she is receiving all of the nutrients that
she requires.
“We know how much guests love to feed her lettuce up on Gira e
Platform!” Exclaims Keeper Ty, “Therefore, we keep an eye on her
diet but also make sure that we’re keeping her teeth clean so she can
continue eating all of the lettuce, sweet potato and apples that her
heart desires.”
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