Giraffes get used to new brushes [VIDEO]

It takes a lot of patience and calm to tame a giraffe. They are easy to spook and they can easily become injured as they run in panic. On Tuesday, Wroclaw zookeepers began the action to persuade their giraffes to new grooming equipment, which was donated by the Wroclaw-based company Luxoft, the curators to Rafika, the largest giraffe male in the zoo.

Giraffes need grooming for several reasons. It is necessary for health and hygiene purposes. However, it is also required to tie a bond between the zookeeper and the animal, and as the animals spend more time with people, they also become spookier.

However, the animals must be persuaded themselves before the new equipment is fit for daily use. The zookeepers are using the giraffes' appetite to their advantage. They prepare a bucketful of treats and award every pull of the comb down a giraffe's neck or back with something delicious. "This is like dog training. We award positive behaviour. And giraffes learn that each pull of the comb is linked with a tasty treat," says Marta Zając Ossowska from the Wroclaw Zoo.

Apart from brushes and curry combs, giraffes also received a special ball. You can fill it with treats for the animals to have fun. They play and exercise while trying to get the food out. "This is just like with children. They won't develop if you leave them in a dark room without any furnishings or toys. Animals are similar in this respect," adds Marta Zając Ossowska. "We entertain the animals to improve their well-being, health and happiness."

The Wroclaw Zoo is home to a large giraffe family. We have three adult females and one male. Two little baby giraffes in the herd are waiting to be transferred to other zoos in Europe.