A giraffe has died at the Los Angeles Zoo after undergoing a procedure to deliver her stillborn calf, the zoo announced Tuesday. Hasina, a 12-year-old Masai giraffe, died unexpectedly.
Masai Giraffe Dies At LA Zoo After Procedure To Deliver Stillborn Calf
KEY POINTS
Hasina, the giraffe, had given birth five times in the past
She was a healthy giraffe in her prime, so the staff was hopeful that she would survive
Unfortunately, her condition worsened and she did not make it
LA Zoo shared the sad news on its Facebook page
A 12-year-old Masai giraffe died at the Los Angeles Zoo on Monday following a procedure to deliver her stillborn calf.
This is the second death of a zoo giraffe in the U.S. in less than seven weeks, the first being the death of a newborn calf at Nashville Zoo on Jan. 16.
The zoo determined on Monday morning that a natural birth was not possible due to the abnormal breech position of the full-term calf. The procedure to manually remove the calf lasted five hours and required more than 30 Animal Care and Animal Health staff members.
Hasina awoke from the anesthesia, but died Monday night, zoo officials reported. This was a time-sensitive procedure and it was all hands on deck, said Beth Schaefer, director of animal programs. When you have an animal of this size and weight, it takes a large team to manage all of the logistics that come with a procedure of this magnitude. We were all focused on the welfare of Hasina, who has been with us for years. Hasina has always been a favorite among staff and guests, and she will be greatly missed.
| Credit: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens Having come to us from the San Diego Zoo in 2010, Hasina was a glorious and beloved ambassador for her species and she was instrumental in adding to the sustainable population of endangered Masai giraffes in human care, the zoo said in a statement. Our entire Zoo family is mourning this painful loss.
Dr. Dominique Keller, the zoo s chief veterinarian and director of animal health and wellness, told KTLA that Hasina was a healthy giraffe in her prime, but the length of time she was under anesthesia and the position of the breech calf complicated the procedure.