BALTIMORE – The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is sad to announce the death of Anuli, the Zoo’s eight-year-old giraffe, which passed away unexpectedly last night.
“We are stunned by this sudden loss,” stated Kirby Fowler, president & CEO of the Maryland Zoo. “Anuli was an integral part of the giraffe herd, and has been a favorite of staff and visitors alike since she arrived here in 2013.”
Anuli had been under treatment since October for episodes of abdominal distension, specifically of her rumen, the first stomach of a ruminant which is where microbial fermentation takes place. “We were able to diagnose this condition with voluntary ultrasound training, as well as monitor her health with voluntary blood draws,” stated Dr. Ellen Bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation, and research. “She had been under treatment with dietary modifications, and medical treatments and we had been able to manage her quite well in the past few months. However, the condition is not fully treatable and we believe that it played a role in her sudden death.”
“Not only were the veterinary and animal care teams closely monitoring her during the day in person, we were also observing her behavior via closed circuit cameras,” stated Erin Grimm, mammal collection and conservation manager at the Zoo. “Last night an animal care team member saw her trying to lie down awkwardly and knew something was wrong. We quickly mobilized our team and came back to the Zoo. Although we arrived in less than 20 minutes, sadly she had already passed. We are devastated and will miss her greatly.”
A necropsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of Anuli’s death. Results of the necropsy may not be known for several months.
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