Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
COAL VALLEY, Ill. (AP) — Officials at a western Illinois zoo say a 12-year-old female giraffe has died.
Niabi Zoo officials say "Mimi" the giraffe died around 1 a.m. Monday. The body has been sent to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine where a veterinary pathologist will complete a necropsy.
Director Marc Heinzman says it's a terrible loss for the zoo.
Mimi had been under the care of veterinary staff after zoo staff noticed she wasn't ruminating or "chewing cud" properly. Heinzman says giraffes have a four-chambered stomach and get nutrients by chewing and regurgitating their food until it's fully digested.
In July, the zoo euthanized a giraffe calf named Genesis who wasn't able to recover from a leg injury.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
