Calgary Zoo puts down giraffe
Posted Mar 1, 2012 12:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It is a sad day at the Calgary Zoo, where early Thursday morning, animal care workers carried out the difficult task of euthanizing one of it’s most beloved residents.
The zoo says 22-year-old giraffe “Mardi” had come to the point where no more could be done to care for her age-related arthritis.
The zoo’s Lauire Skene says staffers are having a tough time on Thursday, after saying good bye to a zoo fixture, in Mardi – who came here from New Orleans back in 1991.
Skene says Mardi will be missed by all who came in contact with her.
“She was just a lovely, gentle animal and there was a lot of behind the scenes programs done with giraffes where people were able to feed her carrots and things, so I’m sure people in Calgary will fondly remember her.”
Mardi’s passing leaves the zoo with just one giraffe, 18-year-old Kari, who Skene says is coping well.
Efforts are underway to bring in another giraffe to join her as soon as possible.
