Auckland Zoo's new giraffe tragically dies

Thursday, 8 March 2018

In March 2018, a newborn giraffe at Auckland Zoo was euthanised because it was too weak to stand and suckle.

'Valiant, round-the-clock efforts' by Auckland Zoo staff couldn't save the life of a newborn giraffe.

Eager anticipation of the latest edition to the zoo's small Pridelands giraffe herd turned to concern then grief.

After a normal pregnancy, the male calf was born to 16-year-old mum Rukiya early Monday morning but was too weak to stand and suckle.

Auckland Zoo staff worked hard to give their latest newborn giraffe calf a 'fighting chance'.

It was a 'tough but kindest call to euthanise him,' Auckland Zoo said.

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Roughly 1.6 metre tall newborn giraffes are normally able to stand 30 minutes after delivery.

Auckland Zoo senior vet Dr An Pas said the spirited calf was a 'fighter' but eventually lost its battle.

'He did manage to stand for short periods and suckle a little bit a few times over the next two days.

'Rukiya, an amazing mother, was doing everything she could to help him'.

Despite veterinary intervention including feeding the calf colostrum and milk to give sustenance and immunity, by Wednesday, a low-grade fever the calf developed turned into a high fever.

'It's a tough situation when a calf is weak like this to start with,' Dr Pas said.

'It's vulnerable to infection and once an infection sets in, its body uses all its power to deal with and fight the infection, so it's not getting enough energy and food so it starts to break down muscle.'

Tests revealed the calf had suffered extensive muscle breakdown and organ failure.

Pridelands keeper David Crimp said staff were proud they worked hard to 'give this calf a fighting chance'.

ZOO'S GIRAFFE WOES

Auckland Zoo lost two giraffes last year.

In April, 2017, elderly Zabulu, 19, died. In his time at the Zoo, Zabulu had fathered 15 calves.

In January that year giraffe Kiraka gave birth to extremely rare twins, the male twin had to be euthanised after encountering similar feeding problems to the zoo's most recent calf.

The female twin, named Kabili, survived and is with the zoo's two adult female giraffes, Rukiya and Kiraka.

It's estimated there are just 80,000 giraffes left in the wild.

- Stuff and Aotearoa Science Agency