Kansas City Zoo mourns loss of second giraffe in two months from same condition
The Kansas City Zoo announced Thursday that an 8-year-old Masai giraffe, Lizzie, was humanely euthanized after her gastrointestinal problems worsened last week.
Lizze had suffered from gastrointestinal problems for “several months,” according to a news release. During that time the zoo staff had been working to treat her for her ailments and was consulting with specialists.
Initial results of a necropsy diagnosed Lizzie with rumenitis, inflammation of the stomach. According to the release, Lizzie contracted salmonella, which likely contributed to the disease.
Lizzie’s daughter, Dixie, died of the same disease about two months ago after contracting salmonella, the release said.
Full results of Lizzie’s necropsy will be available in about six weeks. Although the USDA is working to determine what strain of salmonella affected the giraffes, the release said, salmonella is common in wild animals that live in the area.
Other giraffes are being monitored, the release said, but have not shown symptoms of the disease that killed Lizzie and Dixie.
The zoo is working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Giraffe Species Survival Plan to determine if any other steps should be taken to ensure the health and safety of our giraffe herd,” the release said.
Lizzie was born at the Kansas City Zoo in 2012. She gave birth to two giraffes, Dixie in 2018 and Chandy in 2019.
“Her caregivers say she was a fantastic mom, very smart, and had really become a leader of the herd,” the release said.
