The Toronto Zoo is mourning the lack of Kiko, a 13-year-old male Masai giraffe that died following what the zoo describes as a tragic accident.
In a press release Friday, the zoo mentioned Kiko was given entry to a further space of his behind-the-scenes habitat on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 1.
The zoo mentioned the giraffe, identified for his curiosity, started exploring the house and have become caught in a gap door, leading to a “a really tragic and unlucky incident.”
Masai giraffes have comparatively delicate heads supported by a six-foot neck “able to shifting ahead, backward, up, down, and facet to facet, permitting their head place to shift shortly,” the zoo mentioned.
Regardless of a right away response from employees, Kiko panicked and sustained accidents that, because of the species’ distinctive anatomy, proved deadly.
The zoo mentioned the loss is especially tough for Kiko’s wildlife care workforce, noting that shifting giraffes between areas is a routine apply that has been completed “1000’s of occasions with out incident.”
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In latest months, the zoo mentioned employees had been offering Kiko with specialised behind-the-scenes take care of a hoof and foot harm, tailoring his habitat and day by day routine to help his restoration.
Kiko’s physique has been despatched to the College of Guelph for a full autopsy examination.
The zoo mentioned its well being and security providers workforce has launched an intensive investigation and that findings might be shared as soon as the method is full.
Masai giraffes are listed as endangered, with their world inhabitants having dropped to only over 43,000.
The species was categorized as endangered by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature in 2018 after a virtually 50 per cent inhabitants decline over three many years.
Kiko was born in 2012 on the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina and later got here to the Toronto Zoo as a part of the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan.
The zoo mentioned Kiko sired two calves, with a 3rd anticipated in early 2026.
Workers at the moment are targeted on supporting the giraffe care workforce and the pregnant feminine giraffe, Mstari.
“Whereas we mourn this vital loss, we’re targeted on supporting our workforce in addition to Mstari as she is within the later phases of her being pregnant,” the zoo mentioned.
“We ask that you simply please hold our employees and volunteers in your ideas throughout this extremely tough time and be part of us in remembering and honouring Kiko, an impressive giraffe who touched so many hearts.”
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