Mum and baby calf giraffes drop dead in zoo in one month in mystery deaths

12 October 2023 , 19:52

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The cause of death for one giraffe was listed as muscle trauma (Image: Facebook)

A Texas zoo has revealed the cause of death of a mum and calf giraffe after they sadly passed away in July.

Giraffes Penelope and Zuri died mysteriously at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco this year. The cause of death for Penelope was listed as muscle trauma that arose as exertional rhabdomyolysis - which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says is the "breakdown of skeletal muscle as a result of excessive physical training, work, or exercise."

In severe cases, the medical issue can lead to kidney failure cardiac arrest and a change in the levels of metabolites in the blood. Muscle stiffness is also a common problem.

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Penelope and Zuri died in July this year (Facebook)

“Despite medical treatment, mum Penelope’s condition rapidly led to difficulty transitioning from lying down to standing up. In large animals such as giraffes, the inability to stand can lead to a multitude of issues, including further muscle damage, aspiration of stomach contents, and gastrointestinal disease,” said Cameron Zoo, as reported by KWTX.

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The zoo has said stressful behaviours in Penelope that may have indicated a potential warning of her eventual cause of were not detected. Month-old calf Zuri, meanwhile, suffered from a nasty case of sepsis.

The giraffe suffered an infection of the gastrointestinal tract which eventually spread to its bloodstream. The infection eventually caused pneumonia and shock when it spread to the mammal's lungs.

Cameron Park Zoo said it was 'deeply saddened' by the loss of the giraffes (Google)

The report listed possible stress during the transition to being bottle-fed after the loss of Zuri's mother. Penelope, a Masai giraffe, was just 10 when she died.

In the wild, the lifespan of a Masai giraffe is 10 to 15 years, but they can live between 20 to 27 years in human care.

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“The Cameron Park Zoo is still mourning the loss of Penelope and Zuri, but this information helps us understand what we were dealing with. It gives me comfort knowing that we provided the best medical care we could under the circumstances. Giraffes are always challenging to treat due to their size and unique physiology. I hope that this information may contribute to the growing body of knowledge about their care,” said Dr. James Kusmierczyk, staff veterinarian for the Cameron Park Zoo.

Masai giraffes require specialised care in zoos and typically eat up to 75 lbs of leaves every day, according to Racine Zoo in Wisconsin.

Known for their star-like patters, Masai giraffes considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their number fell by 50 per cent in the 30 year leading up to 2015, when the species was declared endangered.

Benjamin Lynch