This archive report was first published on 23 August 2019.
On Wednesday, a photo of a Kenyan giraffe with an eye tumour went viral on social media, prompting swift action from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Published on August 22, 2019, KWS confirmed that the giraffe, a Rothschild's giraffe, had a bone tumour and was in need of treatment.
Dr. Titus Kaitho led the vet team in administering a palliative treatment of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, and the giraffe will be closely monitored.
According to KWS, while the giraffe was able to move, feed, and drink water, exorcising the tumour proved difficult due to the extent of the growth, which could have caused serious complications.
As the giraffe received treatment, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was holding a meeting in which wildlife-supporting countries backed regulating international trade in giraffes to offer more protection to the species, feared to be facing a 'silent extinction.'
As a result, all giraffe species are now listed in Appendix II, and trade in giraffe species is now regulated.
