Zoo Giraffe Dies
08/15/2008
The bull, who was named Azog, was
born at the N.C. Zoo. He was one of two adult giraffes in the Zoo’s
collection. Thursday morning keepers noticed that he was having urinary difficulties
and called in Zoo veterinarians to diagnose the
problem.
The Zoo's Chief Veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis determined that a kidney stone had
blocked Azog's urinary tract and would eventually kill him unless it
was removed. The veterinary team began emergency surgery around noon.
After more than two hours of surgery, the team had still not reached
the stone. Azog died under anesthesia around 2:30 p.m.
Dr.
Loomis has anesthetized more than a dozen giraffes over the years, and
Azog was the first one to die during the procedure. Dr. Loomis stated
that he knew the surgery would be risky. Giraffes' respiratory systems respond poorly to anesthesia and complications are common. But, because death was certain without
surgery, Dr. Loomis shouldered the risks in an effort to save Azog’s life.
The
veterinary staff performed a necropsy on Azog Thursday evening to
confirm the cause of his death. The final result of the medical
tests conducted at the necropsy will not be available for several days.
Meanwhile,
the Zoo’s other adult giraffe, Julie, remains in good health and will continue to be on
exhibit. At the ripe old age of 32, Julie is one of the five oldest
giraffes living in an American zoo.
In a related development,
two 10-month-old male giraffes will arrive at the N.C. Zoo on September
6. Both youngsters were born in Colorado. Terry Webb, the Zoo's Curator
of Mammals, arranged to bring in the two young giraffes earlier this
year, before Azog exhibited any symptoms. The two youngsters will
undergo a mandatory 30-day quarantine period before they go on exhibit
at the Zoo.
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