Kalahari the giraffe – better known as Kali – died Friday morning at the age of 25. The average lifespan of a giraffe in captivity is about 25 to 28 years.
Cheryl Piropato, the zoo’s education and communications director, said Kali was an elderly giraffe and had some age-related ailments such as arthritis.
“She had been receiving expert care here, lots of TLC,” she said. “It’s a very, very sad day here at the zoo.”
Kali arrived at the children’s zoo in the spring of 2005 from the zoo in Columbus, Ohio, and spent nearly a decade in Fort Wayne before her death. There are six other giraffes, two male and four female, at the zoo.
“According to the zookeeper, she was the one that looked out for the babies when we had babies,” Piropato said. “Often a female giraffe that doesn’t have a baby at the time will act like an auntie among the babies.”
Kali did not have any babies of her own during her time at the Fort Wayne zoo.
Kali had many fans among both zoo staff and guests, Piropato said. The zoo has a feeding platform in the area where the giraffes live, which allows guests to get to know many of the giraffes by name. Because of this, many people got the chance to know Kali.
“The giraffe keepers, those who work with the animals every day certainly do form attachments, so a day like this is certainly very hard on them,” she said. “The closest thing I can relate it to is when you lose your closest pet at home. That’s what we’re feeling today.”
Zookeepers who tended to Kali were unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.
December 19, 2014 3:58 PM
Kalahari the giraffe dies at zoo
The Journal Gazette
Kalahari the giraffe, a longtime resident of the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, has died, the zoo said on its Twitter account this afternoon.
"We are saddened to report the passing of Kalahari the giraffe," the tweet said. "She'll be greatly missed by her keepers and many fans."
Kalahari, who was about 25 and towered 16 feet above the ground, has lived at the zoo since 2004.
For more on this story, visit www.journalgazette.net later today or see Saturday's print edition of The Journal Gazette.
Kalahari the giraffe – better known as Kali – died Friday morning at the age of 25. The average lifespan of a giraffe in captivity is about 25 to 28 years.
Cheryl Piropato, the zoo’s education and communications director, said Kali was an elderly giraffe and had some age-related ailments such as arthritis.
“She had been receiving expert care here, lots of TLC,” she said. “It’s a very, very sad day here at the zoo.”
Kali arrived at the children’s zoo in the spring of 2005 from the zoo in Columbus, Ohio, and spent nearly a decade in Fort Wayne before her death. There are six other giraffes, two male and four female, at the zoo.
“According to the zookeeper, she was the one that looked out for the babies when we had babies,” Piropato said. “Often a female giraffe that doesn’t have a baby at the time will act like an auntie among the babies.”
Kali did not have any babies of her own during her time at the Fort Wayne zoo.
Kali had many fans among both zoo staff and guests, Piropato said. The zoo has a feeding platform in the area where the giraffes live, which allows guests to get to know many of the giraffes by name. Because of this, many people got the chance to know Kali.
“The giraffe keepers, those who work with the animals every day certainly do form attachments, so a day like this is certainly very hard on them,” she said. “The closest thing I can relate it to is when you lose your closest pet at home. That’s what we’re feeling today.”
Zookeepers who tended to Kali were unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.
December 19, 2014 3:58 PM
Kalahari the giraffe dies at zoo
The Journal Gazette
Kalahari the giraffe, a longtime resident of the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, has died, the zoo said on its Twitter account this afternoon.
"We are saddened to report the passing of Kalahari the giraffe," the tweet said. "She'll be greatly missed by her keepers and many fans."
Kalahari, who was about 25 and towered 16 feet above the ground, has lived at the zoo since 2004.
For more on this story, visit www.journalgazette.net later today or see Saturday's print edition of The Journal Gazette.
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