NON-INVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF GIRAFFE TEMPERATURE

• Grant number: 24/21445-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Fabiano Antonio Cadioli
• Grantee: Rebeca Figueiredo Nalesso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Accurate measurement of body temperature is crucial for assessing the health and well-being of giraffes. The traditional technique, rectal thermometry, while a standard, has significant limitations due to its invasiveness and stressfulness for the animals. This study proposes an innovative approach, seeking to develop and validate non-invasive methods for measuring body temperature in giraffes.Infrared thermometers (Testo) and thermal imaging cameras (FLIR C3) will be used, in addition to rectal thermometry using a digital thermometer. The ocular region, indicated by previous studies as an area with a high correlation with actual body temperature, will be a focus area. Preliminary results suggest a high correlation between the temperature measured by non-invasive methods and rectal temperature.The adoption of non-invasive methods represents a significant advancement in veterinary medicine, offering various advantages such as reducing stress and discomfort in animals and the ease of use of the equipment. Additionally, thermography allows for monitoring body temperature over time, enabling more accurate and continuous monitoring of giraffe health, contributing to preventive medicine and advancing scientific research in the field.