SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 20, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Hogle Zoo has announced the death of a giraffe born about three weeks ago.
The female calf, born Dec. 28, was underweight, short and underdeveloped at birth, zoo officials announced Friday in a news release.
“As per normal protocol, keeper and veterinary staffs kept close watch on the calf and protected the privacy of mom and baby,” the zoo’s news release stated.
“Animal care began to notice the baby was not putting on weight at a normal rate, typically one to two pounds a day, even though the calf was nursing.
Nancy Carpenter, the zoo’s director of animal health, said the exact cause of death is undetermined.
“We know that mom had milk but it’s difficult to know if it just wasn’t enough milk or if the calf just wasn’t able to nurse well enough to sustain herself,” Carpenter said.
Despite medical efforts, the calf died on Jan. 18, weighing 113 pounds, which is small for a three-week-old giraffe, the statement continued.
“In general, giraffe babies do not need any help to thrive,” Carpenter said in the statement. “This baby faced challenges from birth and despite all of our efforts, was not able to make it. It is always hard to lose a baby.”
This was the third birth for mother giraffe Kipenzi. A calf born in 2012 survived. One born in 2010 did not.
“We all fell in love with this little giraffe,” said Holly Peterson, giraffe keeper. “For something so small she has left a huge hole in our hearts and in the giraffe barn.”
Hogle Zoo currently has four giraffes, male (and father) Riley and females Kipenzi and Pogo, mother to 1-year-old Willow. At birth, Willow weighed 125 pounds.
