A 25-year-old giraffe at the Toronto Zoo has died after weeks of deteriorating health, zoo officials said.
Twiga was born at the zoo in 1990, making her one of the oldest Masai giraffes in North America.
“Twiga was a beautiful, geriatric giraffe and the Wildlife Care staff observed her health failing in recent weeks, including weight loss,” the zoo said in a Facebook post.
The giraffe was euthanized after it collapsed on Saturday.
“Twiga lived a very long life and provided staff, volunteers, members and visitors with many memorable moments over the years,” the post said. “Keepers remember her as being an incredible mother and a great leader to the younger giraffes over the years.
“She will be thoroughly missed by everyone.”
Thousands of people commented on the news of Twiga’s death, many sharing personal anecdotes of having met the animal.
“This is such sad news,” said one commenter. “My children and I had a behind-the-scene tour this summer and Twiga was a highlight.”
Twiga gave birth to nine calves during her life at the Toronto Zoo, the most recent one being a two-year-old female named Mstari.
The average lifespan of a giraffe in the wild is 25 years. They have been known to live longer in captivity.
