Baby Giraffe Walks After Wearing Specialized Leg Braces at San Diego Zoo

A three-month-old giraffe at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park was up and running after being fitted with a specialized pair of orthotic braces, which correctly positioned her bent legs.

The giraffe, named Msituni, suffered from a hyperextension of the carpi, which caused her front legs to bend improperly and made it difficult for her to stand or walk, according to the zoo.

“Wildlife 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,” the zoo said.

The baby giraffe also received treatment for blood abnormalities and irregularly positioned back legs.

These videos shared by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance on May 13 show Msituni’s leg brace treatments, as well as the rehabilitated animal joining the rest of the giraffe herd and drinking from a bottle. Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance via Storyful

Video transcript

- Let's [INAUDIBLE] if you go from [INAUDIBLE] mark.

- [INAUDIBLE] order and then you get from moment after that.

- I don't know. [INAUDIBLE]

- All right, let's--

- Yes, beautiful.

- Nice turn.

- Mm-hmm.

- Yeah, oh.

- Mm-hmm.

- First concern about is like, he's hitting there.

- Right.

- Around there.

- What's nice about these, is they're thinner.

- But this-- I was just going to say--

[CHATTER]

- That's true.

- You did this?

- Yup, it's--

- It's [INAUDIBLE] if you guys can't get through her--

- Oh, not [INAUDIBLE].

- That will just be left behind.

- You can even cut the plastic like right through here. But I'd be afraid to [INAUDIBLE].

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- The purpose [INAUDIBLE] this won't go that far. I just wondered when they try to sit normally, what that will do.

- She's going to do that. This one flexes more than the other.

- It does.

- So I think it will be easier.

- Good for you. Here you go.

- Can she [INAUDIBLE]?

- Yeah, I think.

- Come on, let's go. Come here. Oh, you're saying her day with the [INAUDIBLE].

- Hi, [INAUDIBLE].

- She's visiting.

- Is she kissing [INAUDIBLE]?

- Ah, she's just licking the bars with it. She said hi to the deer.

- Come here. Let's go.

- Good girl, yeah.

- And the truck.

- Msituni!

- Come this way, would ya? No.

- Hey, [INAUDIBLE]! This camera's not even though.

- I know. Like--

- They're so sweet. I hope that thing has zoom.

- I got it, yeah. We're good.

- Sorry, we're talking. It's so special though.

- Aw--

- That's your baby.

- Look at her, she's like, oh my God.

- Stop.

- I'll call her on the radio--

- Money shot. Money shot right there. Oh my God.

- [INAUDIBLE] sitting in the truck. The kids-- Oh gosh.

- Go, girl, go. Hey, little girl. Come here. Not that way, that's too steep.

- Msituni.

- That's the name you know for us to hear up here though.

- Approaching the rhino.

- We're going to let her have that. We're going to go just a little bit far.

- Yeah.

- [INAUDIBLE] OK.

- You see that giraffe?

- Who is that, [INAUDIBLE]?

- Khaleesi sees it.

- Uhu. [INAUDIBLE] totally locked in on her.

- All right, here we go.

- Smile, Ollie.

- Yeah.