Giraffe calf born July 4 at Dallas Zoo is euthanized after ‘catastrophic’ leg injury

A giraffe calf born three months ago at the Dallas Zoo was euthanized over the weekend after a “catastrophic” injury.

Marekani, whose name means “America” ​​in Swahili, was born on July 4th and made her public debut on July 8th. She was put to sleep on Sunday after carers found multiple fractures in her leg, the zoo said.

On Saturday, the caretakers noticed that Marekani was limping, but she showed normal behavior by walking into the herd stall alone, the zoo shared on Facebook.

She and her mother were given a private area so caregivers could watch Marekani, but the team saw no wounds, excessive swelling, or any other indication that her leg was seriously injured. She was given pain medication and rested overnight.

The next morning, her limping and swelling were worse, so she was sedated so the carers could take a closer look. The staff found that she had dislocated her right elbow and broken the radius, ulna, and growth plate.

“Because of their tall stature, and because giraffes carry most of their weight on their forelegs, it is almost impossible to repair such an injury so that it is tough enough to withstand the normal stress of movement and activity,” said the zoo .

Marekani, born on July 4th, made her public debut in the Giants of the Savanna on July 8th together with her mother Chrystal.(Lynda M. González / photographer)

The growth plate fracture also meant that her bone could never grow properly and she suffered from orthopedic deformities, arthritis, and lifelong pain.

“Unfortunately, such injuries are catastrophic for giraffes and there was no hope of recovery,” said the zoo. “With that prediction, the team made the incredibly difficult decision to humanely euthanize Marekani.”

The zoo said it did not know how Marekani was injured.

“As with any event like this, we will use this as an opportunity to assess every element of the situation and identify any changes we can make to prevent future incidents,” said the zoo.

Marekani is the third giraffe calf to die at the Dallas Zoo in recent years.

In 2019, one-year-old Witten died under anesthesia. Four years earlier, a three-month-old calf named Kipenzi died after breaking three vertebrae in its neck when it hit a wall in its habitat.

Dallas Zoo staff previously announced to the Dallas Morning News that the habitat and behind-the-scenes area were being updated following these deaths to prevent similar incidents.

For example, the area where giraffes are stunned has been changed to allow staff to better monitor an animal’s vital signs, and the habitat fencing is now more visible.

The Dallas Zoo said Marekani was very much missed.

“Although she was only with us for a short time, Marekani won the hearts of the zoo employees, guests and the public alike,” says the Facebook post.

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