Toronto, Canada – The New Year began on a heartbreaking note for staff at the Toronto Zoo, who announced the tragic, accidental passing of a beloved giraffe named Kiko. According to a public post from the zoo, the 13-year-old Masai giraffe died on January 1 after being given access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat.
They explained the tragedy, writing:
True to his curious nature, he began exploring the space and tragically became caught in an opening door. Masai giraffes have relatively delicate heads supported by a six-foot neck capable of moving forward, backward, up, down, and side to side, allowing their head position to shift quickly. Despite the team’s immediate response, Kiko panicked and sustained injuries that, due to the unique anatomy of his species, proved fatal.
Adding:
This loss is impacting Kiko’s Wildlife Care team particularly hard, as shifting giraffes is a normal routine they have done thousands of times without incident. Over the last few months, our Wildlife Health and Care team have also been providing Kiko with specialized care behind-the-scenes in the giraffe house to treat a hoof/foot injury, which meant tailoring his habitat and daily routine to give him the best chance for a full recovery.
Kiko was born in 2012 at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina. Those who knew and loved Kiko are mourning his loss.
A necropsy will be conducted on Kiko’s body, and the results will be shared publicly.
Rest easy Kiko.
(Images via Toronto Zoo Facebook page)
Thanks for reading, we appreciate your support!
Please support us by visiting our design store on Bonfire!
