Oakland Zoo officials announced this week that they have euthanized an ailing male giraffe named Tsavo.
The reticulated giraffe had been under treatment since November “for a variety of concerning neurological symptoms,” zoo officials said in a social media post Wednesday.
“Despite exceptional hands-on care, advanced veterinary medicine, and guidance from a highly respected veterinary neurologist, Tsavo continued to experience serious deficits, pain, and a significant decline in coordination and balance,” according to zoo officials.
After his care team determined that no additional treatments were available to cure his condition or relieve his pain, Tsavo was euthanized in the giraffe barn on Tuesday.
It’s unclear exactly what Tsavo’s ailment was but experts at University of California, Davis will perform a necropsy to see if they can identify the illness, according to zoo spokesperson Isabella Linares.
Linares said it doesn’t appear as if 9-year-old Tsavo’s health problems were the result of his zoo environment, and all the other giraffes, which can live up to about 30 years in captivity, are healthy.
Tsavo came to Oakland from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in 2021 and was a beloved addition to the small herd, which now has only four members — although Linares said it’s possible the zoo could add more giraffes in the future.
“Tsavo was a true gentleman. He was gentle with people and delightfully mischievous within the herd. He was an ambassador for his wild counterparts and a teacher to his keepers,” zoo officials said.
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