Newborn Giraffe Dies at Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Reported by: Alicia Coates
Email: aliciacoates@cbsfresno.com
Last Update: 1:38 pm

Fresno Chaffee Zoo officials announced its newborn giraffe passed away Tuesday morning.

The un-named giraffe was born one week ago and began having health issues on Monday and died around 3:30 a.m.

It’s unknown what caused the newborn to die but officials say it began having seizures Monday afternoon. The Chaffee Zoo staff consulted with local veterinary medical experts and the San Diego Zoo but could not save the animal.

Adrienne Castro with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo said, “…truth is we can’t speculate until we get our necropsy, which is similar to an autopsy for humans, so once we get that we’ll know exactly what happened.”

This was the fifth pregnancy for the mother giraffe and zoo officials allowed her time Tuesday morning to grieve with her newborn.

Zoo director Scott Barton said, “Working with animals is the greatest job in the world but at times like this, it can break your heart.”

Officials announced that there is another pregnant giraffe at the Chaffee Zoo that is expected to deliver sometime in the summer.

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