Walking tall: Leg braces give San Diego giraffe calf new lease on life
Three-month-old Msituni is now skipping around with a new lease with the help of a custom leg brace to correct abnormalities that threatened her survival
Giraffe calf walks tall after getting leg brace
A 3-month-old giraffe calf at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has received a new lease on life, thanks to swift intervention by the conservation organization’s wildlife health and wildlife care teams to correct abnormalities that threatened the calf’s survival.
SAN DIEGO – A baby giraffe is getting a little extra pep in her step thanks to doctors at the San Diego Zoo.
Three-month-old Msituni – which means "in the forest" in Swahili – is now skipping around with a new lease with the help of a custom leg brace to correct abnormalities that threatened her survival.
HOW THE PHOENIX ZOO PROTECTS GIRAFFES DURING MONSOON THUNDERSTORMS
A 3-month-old giraffe calf at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has received a new lease on life, thanks to swift intervention by the conservation organization’s wildlife health and wildlife care teams to correct abnormalities that threatened the calf’s survival.
(San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
The specialized giraffe-patterned orthotic braces attach to her front legs to help correct a hyperextension of the carpi, bones that are equivalent to those in the human wrist.
This disorder had caused the giraffe’s front legs to bend improperly and made it difficult for her to stand and walk.
7 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT PENGUINS
"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 Dr. Matt Kinney, senior veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo 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."
![]()
Image 1 of 4The female youngster—named Msituni, which means "in the forest" in Swahili— received a pair of specialized giraffe-patterned orthotic braces that attached to her front legs to help correct a hyperextension of the carpi, bones that are equivalent to those in the human wrist. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
![]()
Image 2 of 4This disorder had caused the giraffe’s front legs to bend improperly, and made it difficult for her to stand and walk. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
![]()
Image 3 of 4Wildlife care staff said Msituni’s chances of survival would have been very low without the treatment provided by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team in collaboration with orthotists from Hanger Clinic. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
![]()
Image 4 of 4The calf has done so well, the wildlife care team introduced her to the rest of the giraffe herd in the Safari Park’s 60-acre East Africa savanna habitat. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
The braces were crafted by Hanger Clinic, a local clinic that typically makes prosthetics for humans. They were able to fabricate the custom-molded carbon graphite orthotic braces by using cast moldings of the calf’s legs and fit Msituni with her new devices, complete with a giraffe pattern to provide a natural look.
MOVE OVER, GRANDMA! ANIMALS ARE RETIRING IN THE SUNSHINE STATE, TOO
"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."
The zoo said the braces were a success, and Msituni is now with the rest of her herd in the Safari Park’s 60-acre East Africa savanna habitat.
MEET PLANKTON: A ONE-EYED FISH THAT EVEN SPONGEBOB WOULD BEFRIEND
The treatment was a success. The braces have been removed, and her legs are now correctly positioned—which is leading to her attaining a healthy weight and height.
(San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
"This was an important step in Msituni’s natural development," said Kristi Burtis, director of wildlife care at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. "As her bond grows with the herd, she will be able to learn behaviors and skills important to the development of a young giraffe."
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED LIZARDS HATCH AT OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO
Science teams have estimated that fewer than 100,000 giraffes are left in their native habitats – a decrease of more than 40 percent over the last 20 years.
It is believed that the downward trend is due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and poaching in certain regions.
"The birth of every animal is a cherished event, and Msituni’s survival in the face of so much adversity makes it all the more remarkable," Kinney said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX WEATHER UPDATE PODCAST
Be sure to download the FOX Weather app for the latest forecast and weather alerts for your exact location, plus the 24/7 livestream of America’s Weather Team.