A one-month-old baby giraffe died over the weekend just four days after the death of her mother. According to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas, Zuri, the Masai giraffe calf died just days after her mother Penelope became ill and passed away.
Zuri was born on June 23 and weighed in at 156 pounds. Her name meant “beautiful.”
it is with great sadness tht the Cameron park zoo announces the death of penelope, the zoo’s adult female masai giraffe. penelople became ill late last night, and the zoo’s veterinarian and staff worked with her during the night, and unfortunately, she passed early this morning.
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After Penelope died, zoo caretakers switched the baby calf to a milk formula and helped her to bond with the zoo’s other female giraffe. Sadly, Zuri died despite the zoo’s best efforts to comfort and care for her.
Penelope had been transferred to the Cameron Zoo from the San Diego Zoo and was ten-years-old. A necropsy to determine the exact cause of death for Penelope Zuri have been performed. Results are expected to take weeks.
Masai giraffes are on the endangered list and are mainly found in Central and Southern Kenya and Tanzania. Poaching, hunting and the loss of their natural habitats are the causes contributing to the loss of these magnificent animals. Anyone who would want to shoot a Masai giraffe in their natural habitat for sport is truly sick!
In the wild, Masai giraffes live between 10 to 15 years; the ones in captivity have been known to live as long as 27 years.
Rest in peace Penelope and Zuri.
(Photos via FB)
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Sad beyond words. I know that Penelope and Zuri are together again in Heaven.
I hope the veterinarians figure out what killed these precious treasures and can prevent other giraffes from dying of the same cause.
BOTH TOGETHER AND RUNNING FREE IN THE FIELDS OF HEAVEN!