Spock, a 22-year-old giraffe at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, has died. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Published on February 13, 2024 at 10:52 am
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Spock, a 22-year-old giraffe at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, has died.
Zoo officials said that Spock, a reticulated giraffe, was euthanized after her animal care team had monitored her for age-related issues including advanced arthritis.
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Born in 2001, Spock was a second-generation descendant of one of the Zoo’s founding female giraffe. Over the course of her life, she never had any offspring of her own. But she became the zoo’s honorary aunt to 22 calves birthed by other giraffes.
“She was a gentle, intelligent giraffe with a larger-than-life personality,” a zoo statement said.
Spock had received a variety of treatments including medication, laser therapy and a private bedded stall at night, zoo officials say.
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The giraffe was not the only zoo death this week.
Sam, a male greater kudus, passed away three days ago due to age-related challenges. Sam arrived at the zoo in 2015, officials said.
Sam sired six offspring and five grandchildren. Three of them, Daffodil, Potter and Neville, live with their mother, Trixie, zoo officials said.
