Giraffe Born With Disorder Treated With Leg Braces At Safari Park

SAN DIEGO, CA — A giraffe born with a disorder is thriving at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, thanks to "lifesaving" leg braces that helped correct abnormalities that threatened the calf's survival.

The 3-month-old female calf — whose name Msituni means "in the forest" in Swahili — suffered from hyperextension of the carpi, bones that are equivalent to those in the human wrist. The disorder caused Msituni's front legs to bend improperly, and made it difficult for her to stand and walk.

Msituni received a pair of specialized giraffe-patterned orthotic braces that attached to her front legs. Her chances of survival would have been very low without the treatment provided by the team in collaboration with orthotists from Hanger Clinic, according to the Safari Park.

"We are so glad to have the resources and expertise to step in and provide this young calf the opportunity for a full life," said Matt Kinney, senior veterinarian at the Safari Park. "Without these lifesaving braces to provide support, the position of her legs would have become increasingly more painful and progressed to a point she would not have been able to overcome."

The custom orthotic braces were crafted by Hanger Clinic. While the company focuses on orthotic and prosthetic care for humans, members of the San Diego-based team consulted with the team at the Safari Park to develop a customized plan for Msituni. Following initial device fittings, the team created custom-molded carbon graphite orthotic braces by using cast moldings of the calf's legs. Msituni was then fitted with the devices, which featured a giraffe pattern.

"I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment," said Ara Mirzaian, certified orthotist at Hanger Clinic. "I've never worked with wildlife before — it's one of those things that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you just have to savor the moment."

Msituni has suffered a variety of serious ailments since she was born. In addition to the irregularities in her front legs, the team at the Safari Park treated her using intravenous antibiotics for abnormalities in her blood and provided specialized hoof extenders to fix the irregular position of her back legs.

Today, Msituni no longer receives antibiotics, her braces have been removed, and her legs are now correctly positioned, which is leading to her attaining a healthy height and weight, according to the Safari Park.

Msituni has made so much progress that she has been introduced to the rest of the giraffe herd in the Safari Park's 60-acre East Africa savanna habitat. The herd includes another adult female, named Yamikani, and her female calf, Nuru, who was born four days after Msituni.