The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
A giraffe at the Virginia Zoo died Sunday because of a hoof condition that caused a noticeable limp and prevented it from standing.
The hoof problems began in the spring of 2009 for Keana, an 8-year-old giraffe, a news release from the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk said. She had a condition that caused the edges of her hooves to grow and roll inward.
The abnormal hoof growth creates complications that affect a giraffe's weight-bearing bones and muscles and change its bone structure, the release said.
Zoo keepers trimmed and filed her hooves regularly to keep them as close to normal as possible and also equipped her stall with padded mats. On Sunday, she was unable to get up from a resting position in her stall, her legs splayed out, the release said. Zookeepers tried to help her up, but she was unable to right herself and stand.
Keana was not euthanized, but died of natural causes, said Diane Paluzzi, a zoo spokeswoman. The results of a necropsy were not available.
In October, Keana gave birth to a male calf that survived only five days. A necropsy indicated the calf had an abnormal heart.
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Animals die at zoos more
Animals die at zoos more often than a person may know. Now if the animals' deaths are caused by the fault of the institutions then concerns should be raised. At the National Zoo in D.C. there were several animal deaths that were at complete fault of the institution. One instance when schedules were not communicated and rat poison was put down in a cage and the animals ate it and died. Things like that should never happen, but sadly, they do. A lot of the animals in zoos, also, can't just be released into their natural habitat. They would never survive! No one at the zoo would ever want to see these animals to live a life that's not at the highest level. Read up on the AZA, WAZA, and many other organizations aimed at protecting zoo animals.
LET THEM GO HOME
Animals don't belong in zoos anyway. It’s like the innocent in jail. Leave them in their own natural habitat where they belong and have a fair chance at life. They way society is today our own people act like animals and if you want to see just turn on the news.
Are these deaths unusual?
Our focus is on one facility (Va. Zoo) and what appears to be an abnormal number of deaths amongst their animal population. But is this actually unusual for a facility this size? Yes having these animals die tugs at our hearts, but in a population as large and diverse as the Va. Zoo's animals are going to die from a variety of causes over the years. Heck, in my lifetime I've had pets die, and no one would question that they didn't have the best of care. And if you read the paper, you'll see that people die from varied causes and prematurely as well.
Giraffe Death
I support the Virginia Zoo, but I have questioned some (not all) of the zoo animal deaths.
Keana was a wonderfully personable animal who took as much pleasure watching humans as we did in watching her. This is truly a sad turn of events.
I question why an animal with foot and bone deformities was allowed into the breeding program for giraffes. Someone somewhere must have questioned the safety of this animal carrying a fetus that can weigh in excess of 100 pounds on deformed feet and leg bones.
improve and grow - not shutdown
Zoos are the sanctuaries to protect the wild animals from poachers and land encroachment.
Expand zoos and yes, make sure that visitors can visit. If we don't see the majesty of the animals then those who can "save" them will soon forget about them.
Zoos
should be strictly for the rehab and recovery of endangered species, and without the all the lookeyloos.
Giraffes have no business being locked up for public display, their size alone demands free range.
Zoos kill animals
Another example of why zoos should be outlawed and why the animals should be free to live in their own habitats.
I'm not talking about the animals that can't take care of themselves - they should be pastured into a reserve. But overall, I am so against zoos.
Have you been to the Norfolk Zoo? It is a disgrace because the animals incarcerated there have no room to roam. Most animals need at least several square miles but at the Norfolk Zoo and other zoos, they are imprisoned.
Just my opinion.
shootz
The giraffe died because of
The giraffe died because of a natural occurring defect. Read the article again. The zoo did all they could to keep this animal alive.
Nothing naturally occurred
in this animal's life or death.
True,...
In the wild this animal would have succumbed to the hoof problem early and eventually been brought down and eaten by a pack of lions. Worse yet, sans lions and not being able to stand on the lame leg, it would have starved to death taking several days of suffering before succumbing to starvation. I’m sure that was MUCH better than having the condition kept under control and monitored in addition to being fed and cared for.