‘Tragic accident’ blamed for recent death of giraffe at Calgary Zoo

The cause of death for a beloved Calgary Zoo giraffe has been released.

In a Monday press release, the zoo says a “tragic accident” led to the recent death of one of its adult Masai giraffes.

Female giraffe Emara died May 19 after tangling one of her horns in a cable surrounding her enclosure, it said.

The statement says a necropsy revealed Emara fell against the enclosure fence and died almost instantly of a broken neck.

Emara, who had just turned 12, came to Calgary from the San Diego Zoo in 2016.

She he was a treasured member at the zoo and was known for her cautious yet curious personality and gentle nature, the zoo adds.

The zoo says it’s checking fencing within its African Savannah Yard enclosure to see if changes are needed to better protect the other giraffes and animals that share the space.

Doug Whiteside, interim associate director of animal care and welfare at the zoo, said Emara was in her prime and was in excellent health when she died.

“Major life changes such as this not only affect our people but can affect our animal residents as well,” Whiteside said in the Monday statement.

He said the zoo’s remaining giraffes, Nabo and Moshi, are doing well.

Grief counsellors are being made available to Emara’s caregivers and other zoo staff.