COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—An elderly giraffe that fell at a Colorado Springs zoo and couldn’t get up has been euthanized.
The Gazette reports that the 20-year-old female giraffe was euthanized at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Friday night. The giraffe, named Uhura, was unable to stand despite a four-hour effort by zoo keepers and firefighters to help her to her feet.
Zoo officials say the giraffe was accepting a cracker from a visitor Friday afternoon when another giraffe bumped into her and she lost her footing. She tumbled down a slope.
The giraffe was moved to a flat area to be treated by veterinarians. She was sitting up by evening, but not standing.
Zoo spokeswoman Jean Gordon says giraffes’ normal life expectancy is 25 to 30 years
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Information from: The Gazette,
