29 April 2010
Alternative treatment for giraffe arthritis

Giraffe Tony has responded well to two acupuncture sessions that aimed to ease his arthritis.

An experienced horse acupuncturist performed the challenging procedure, with Zoo Vets and Keepers assisting.

Tony was led into a special management restraint shute where he was treated, massaged and brushed, before being released back into the Lower Savannah with the zoo's other five giraffe and mixed herds.

Keepers say Tony seemed to enjoy the treatments, particularly the massage, and had fewer visible signs of discomfort afterwards.

Known as the 'elder statesman' of the zoo's giraffe herd, Tony is now in his twilight years aged nineteen. He has 37 descendants and is well travelled: born in New Zealand, before travelling to Perth and then Melbourne.

Vets will continue to treat Tony for arthritis by traditional methods but say they will also continue the acupuncture sessions for as long as it relieves his condition.

Several international zoos have successfully used acupuncture on many types of animals including elephants, horses, pythons and sea lions.

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese treatment, stimulates blood circulation by sticking needles at specific points of the body through which the body's energy flows. According to Chinese medicine, the blood carries "qi", or body energy, that flows along pathways through the body. Acupuncture stimulates the blood by stimulating the "qi".