A giraffe in a New York zoo has died after fracturing its neck on a gate, with the zoo describing the incident as an ‘unprecedented’ accident.
Parker, the six-year-old Masai giraffe, fractured his neck when he got stuck in a support structure for the gate of his enclosure at Savanna Building at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, upstate New York.
Veterinarians responded after he was found unresponsive on Sunday morning (12 February), but sadly they were unable to save the animal.
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The zoo said Parker broke his neck as he tried to free himself from the structure, writing on Facebook: “The Zoo is sad to announce the death of 6-year-old male Masai giraffe Parker.
“[…] We ask the public to keep the animal care staff in your thoughts as they deal with this difficult loss. Grief counsellors will be available to the staff this week.”
A press release said there have been no reports of such incidents at other zoos with similar gate structures, and that the manufacturer had been notified of the potential hazard.
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It also added that Seneca Park Zoo was ‘taking steps’ to modify the enclosure gate structure to prevent any possibility of a reoccurrence.
Zoo Superintendent Steve Lacy said in a statement: “The possibility of this kind of event happening was unforeseen and unprecedented.
“The gate structure, installed in 2018, is a standard giraffe enclosure feature and is used in a number of accredited zoos around the country."
The zoo said it was also working with both the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which have also been notified of the accident.
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Parker had been at the zoo since 2018, having previously been at Santa Barbara Zoo.
Paired with females Kipenzi and Iggy, and father to a giraffe born in April 2022 named Olmstead, the animal was known for his ‘curiosity and playfulness’.
Chris McKinney, a veterinarian at Seneca Park Zoo, said that Parker would be ‘sorely missed by all’, adding: “He had been in excellent health prior to this and was a joy to both staff and visitors.
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“Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our animals and any major event can certainly affect them. So far, all three giraffes, Iggy, Kipenzie, and Olmsted, are doing well. We will continue to monitor them closely in the coming days.”
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello also said the accident was a ‘tragedy’ for the community, from those who ‘cared for and loved Parker’ through to zoo guests and members who ‘had their visits brightened by Parker’s presence’.
“We are all grieving this tremendous loss,” Bello said.
Jess Hardiman