Baby giraffe dies at Greater Vancouver Zoo
July 06, 2006 - 6:21 am
By: Maria Weisgarber/John Streit

First it was Tina the elephant, then the controversy over a long awaited hippo enclosure, and now tragedy has struck at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Just eight days after she was born, a baby giraffe passed away on June 29th after being rushed to a vet hospital. The birth was difficult according to the zoo, and required intervention. Staff were forced to assist the mom, Eleah. The calf underwent intensive care and finally began to stand and walk on her own but was never able to nurse and had to be force fed. Then after a few days of seemingly growing stronger, the baby's health took a dive. The post mortem results shows the calf had pneumonia and several rib fractures. They aren't saying why the death was announced so late. It was the first baby for a giraffe who spent almost her entire life at the zoo. The family attraction has had a rough ride recently. It's still facing cruelty charges over its care of Hazina the hippo. Four other hippos have died at the zoo over the past few years. In 2004, the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums withdrew its accreditation of the zoo, citing the hippo enclosure as a major factor. A brand new enclosure opened last month.