Watch giraffe at Scots zoo knocked out to receive procedure for 'unusual' swelling

A Giraffe at Edinburgh Zoo has undergone a “complex procedure” after developing unusual swelling on his face.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) confirmed the animal, named Gilbert, had to be knocked out with general anaesthetic to investigate the swelling after weeks of planning and with help from experts across Europe.

RZSS vet Harry Winrow said: “A lot of time was spent working out every detail from start to finish. Our priority was to make the procedure as safe as possible for both Gilbert and everyone involved.

The procedure took less than an hour but involved multiple teams working together.

“One focused on anaesthesia and monitoring, another trimmed Gilbert’s hooves and provided limb massages to promote circulation, and a third examined and cleared his mouth to determine the cause of the swelling,” Mr Winrow said.

The charity confirmed Gilbert made a smooth recovery but examinations and x-rays revealed no clear cause for the buildup of food in his cheek.

Mr Winrow said the findings were “unexpected” and said the swelling is suspected to come from a behavioural cause.

“With no dental or jaw abnormalities identified, we suspect the swelling may have a behavioural cause, especially since he quickly refilled his cheek pouch with food right after it was emptied,” he said.

Although a definitive diagnosis wasn’t reached, the team is celebrating a successful outcome.

The investigations have shown no reason to suspect that Gilbert is experiencing pain or discomfort, and he remains in good health.

Gilbert is expected to continue thriving with his usual charm, albeit with a slightly lopsided look. With ongoing training, keepers hope to help him improve his oral hygiene by regularly flushing the cheek pouch with water.