Calgary Zoo’s beloved giraffe Carrie dies
Posted Oct 8, 2022 1:50 pm.
Last Updated Oct 9, 2022 8:23 am.
Carrie, a 29-year-old reticulated giraffe at the Calgary Zoo, has died.
Zoo officials “said goodbye” to the female reticulated giraffe on Wednesday.
Carrie had been dealing with several health issues associated with advanced age.
Saying goodbye to the animals we love and care for is never easy. ???????? On Wednesday, we said goodbye to our beloved female Reticulated giraffe, ‘Carrie’, who had been dealing with several progressive health issues associated with advanced age. Read more: https://t.co/5xVXZZFcMI pic.twitter.com/OjvcrMujfl
— Calgary Zoo (@calgaryzoo) October 7, 2022
Carrie was born in May 1993 and arrived the Wilder Institute at the Calgary Zoo a year later.
The median life expectancy for a female giraffe under managed care is just over 20 years.
The zoo’s health and welfare team says it did what it could to keep Carrie healthy, with various medications, dietary adjustments and skin treatments.
Officials say Carrie’s health began to deteriorate after experiencing “progressive degenerative arthritis” in her joints, particularly in the right hip joint.
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And as a result, it was becoming difficult to lie down or stand up properly given the stiffness and soreness from her arthritis, says the Calgary Zoo.
Carrie was considered the last reticulated giraffe in an AZA (Association of Zoo and Aquariums) zoo in Canada and the fifth oldest giraffe in human care in an accredited zoo in North America.
Reticulated giraffes are native to Somalia and can also found in Northern Kenya, according to Animal Corner.
Carrie is survived by the other members of the giraffe family including her mate, Nabo, daughter Moshi and friend Emara.
