The calf was born on Feb. 1 with her front limb bending the wrong way. Staff feared she could die if they didn’t immediately correct the condition.
The giraffe calf was born on Feb. 1, 2022, with her front limb bending the wrong way, and zoo staff feared she could die. Here's a look at her brace fitting and reintroduction.Over the past three decades, Ara Mirzaian has fitted braces for everyone from Paralympians to children with scoliosis. But Msituni was a patient like none other — aThe calf was born Feb. 1 at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, north of San Diego, with her front limb bending the wrong way.
Zoos increasingly are turning to medical professionals who treat people to find solutions for ailing animals. The collaboration has been especially helpful in the field of prosthetics and orthotics. Earlier this year, ZooTampa in Florida teamed up with similar experts to successfully replace the beak of a cancer-stricken great hornbill bird with a 3D-printed prosthetic.
But this was a definite learning curve for all, including Matt Kinney, a senior veterinarian for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in charge of Msituni’s case. And given that she weighed more than 100 pounds at birth, the abnormality was already taking its toll on her joints and bones.While the custom braces were being built, Kinney first bought post-surgery knee braces at Target that he cut up and re-sewed, but they kept slipping off. Then Msituni wore medical grade braces for humans that were modified for her long legs. But eventually Msituni broke one.
"We put on the giraffe pattern just to make it fun," Mirzaian said. "We do this with kids all the time. They get to pick super-heroes, or their favorite team and we imprint it on their bracing. So why not do it with a giraffe?"
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Baby giraffe at San Diego Zoo fitted with braces after being born with limb conditionThe calf was born on Feb. 1 with her front limb bending the wrong way. Staff feared she could die if they didn’t immediately correct the condition.
Read more »
Bracing for Her Future: Human Treatment Rescues Baby GiraffeThe calf was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with an unusual disorder that caused her front limb to bend the wrong way.
Read more »
Victims in deadly Jamacha stabbing identifiedSan Diego Police have identified the two men who died following a stabbing in San Diego’s Jamacha neighborhood Sunday morning.
Read more »
San Diego City Attorney sues more than 20 companies to force cleanup of toxic chemicalsThe San Diego City Attorney's Office filed suit Wednesday against more than 20 chemical companies for allegedly manufacturing toxic chemicals that have been detected in San Diego area water sources.
Read more »
San Diego Zoo growing its own food for animals in quest to be self-sufficientThe idea of farm to table is getting very popular, but 10NewsLasky explains how the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is taking it to a whole new level.
Read more »
Civilian review board recommends jail inmates be given access to naloxoneSan Diego County Sheriff's Department should make medication 'readily available'
Read more »