Mapping surface temperature pattern of Giraffa camelopardalis in Ragunan Zoo using infrared thermal camera

An infrared thermal camera is a tool for measuring surface temperature with a non-invasive, fast, low-cost, and efficient method, especially in wildlife. Infrared thermal cameras help identify physiological processes in animals by measuring the surface temperature of the animal's body. This study aims to determine the normal surface temperature and the closest region to the core body temperature of giraffes using infrared thermal camera images. Three giraffes were used as experimental animals. Thermal image data retrieval for 5 days was carried out in the morning at ±09:00 and in the afternoon at ±12:00 WIB. The result showed that the average surface regions temperature of the eye, cheek, nose, thorax, and abdomen in the morning session in five days were 35.54°C; 34.77°C; 32.19°C; 32.66°C; 32.77°C; and in the afternoon session were 36.39°C; 34.61°C; 34.49°C; 35.00°C; 34.47°C respectively. The temperature of the eye region has the highest temperature among the cheek, nose, thorax, and abdomen regions. Surface temperature is affected by core temperature, ambient temperature, humidity, and vascular regulation. The best region for estimating core body temperature is the eye region. The eye region has the closest value to the giraffe's core body temperature.