The Delhi zoo has lost its last giraffe, Ankit. The 8-year-old male giraffe, which was born and brought up in the zoo, died on Tuesday morning after he suffered a heart attack along with kidney failure.
Ankit was the last surviving offspring of the giraffe pair brought to the zoo from Kolkata in 1997-98. The pair had given birth to seven giraffes, all of whom are now dead. About two years ago, a female giraffe died in the zoo known as the National Zoological Park.
“The female giraffe was the sister of Ankit . She was found dead in her enclosure after she hit her head with the fencing around her space,” said a zoo official. The case had raised questions about the protection of such animals in the zoo.
Officials said that the male giraffe was doing fine until he was found dead in his enclosure.
“The animal was found dead on early Tuesday morning with slight salivation from his mouth. He had never shown any symptoms and was feeding well on the diet of fruits like bananas, green and tree fodder,” said the official, adding that the giraffe even took his diet properly on Monday evening.
The post-mortem report suggested that the giraffe died of myocardial infraction which is commonly known as heart attack and kidney failure. Zoo officials have buried the body. Preparations are on to fill the empty enclosure again.
The officials have denied that the death was due to any carelessness or intense heat.
8-year-old Ankit found dead in his enclosure
