“Giraffe in Wildlands Zoo Dies from Anesthesia During Complicated Delivery”

A giraffe at Wildlands zoo in Emmen died yesterday while giving birth to her young. The calf was dead before birth. Zookeepers at the park are “devastated by the sad news”.

Giraffe Hidaya’s delivery started on Tuesday and took a very long time. The young was lying in the wrong belly because of a swept back neck. A normal delivery was therefore impossible. The giraffe was put under anesthesia on Wednesday.

Anesthesia in giraffes is not without danger because of their long necks and associated complicated circulatory system, Wildlands writes in a statement. The park’s veterinarian received help from a nearby veterinary practice during the procedure, but the anesthesia ultimately killed the animal.

The giraffe was expecting her fifth cub, writes RTV Drenthe. Hidaya gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Mwezi in November 2021. Giraffes have a long gestation period: 400 to 460 days.