A young female giraffe at Zoo Miami has tragically died after suffering a broken neck. The giraffe, who was the 60th born at the zoo, was found dead by staff on Saturday morning. It is unclear what caused the giraffe to break her neck, as it happened overnight and away from the view of workers at the facility. Speculations suggest that something may have startled the animal, causing her to run into a fence.
The zoo staff are closely monitoring the herd for any signs of stress or abnormal behavior, while also investigating the incident to prevent similar incidents in the future. The giraffe, who stood at just over 5 feet tall, arrived at the zoo on 15 December, born to 13-year-old Sabra and six-year-old Malcolm. The loss is devastating for the zoo, and they are evaluating all procedures to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Giraffes, native to 21 African countries, are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They face threats from poaching, habitat loss due to deforestation for farming and ranching, as well as the booming charcoal industry that is destroying the trees giraffes rely on for food. The tragic incident at Zoo Miami highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these majestic animals from the risks they face in the wild.
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