Earlier this week, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo officials announced the passing of beloved giraffe, Zahra, after a brief illness.
The zoo announced her passing on Facebook Wednesday.
Born in October 2009 to Jelani and Zuri, Zahra gave birth to calf Kita last summer. Her offspring marked three generations of giraffe at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, according to officials.
“Zahra first seemed to have a mild lameness in mid-June and later showed decreased appetite,” reported Dr. Kami Fox, Staff Veterinarian. “Because of the excellent animal training from our Animal Care Team, we were able to obtain blood samples during her illness for diagnostics and to monitor her response to treatment. Despite the weeks of supportive care and diet supplementation, she developed digestive issues, causing a life-threatening condition and her ultimate death.”
In the social media post dedicated to her memory, zoo officials said "Zahra was loved by all, and her loss is felt deeply. We share this heartbreak with our animal care professionals, who cared for her every single day of her life. We thank them for their outstanding work, not only with Zahra, but with all the animals here at the Zoo."
