Animal Adventure mourns loss of one of its giraffes
HARPURSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – The Animal Adventure family is mourning the loss of one of its most popular residents.
Animal Adventure Park & Preserve took to Facebook on Saturday to announce the passing of one of its giraffes, Johari.
Commonly known as 'Joh', the female reticulated giraffe resided at the facility for the six years. She was 20 years old.
'In Swahili, Johari means 'jewel', which is an appropriate name for a giraffe who was truly a gem of the Animal Adventure family. Just as Joh was embraced and endeared by guests and Giraffe Cam viewers, she was adored by our animal care team,' Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, said. 'She was a wonderful ambassador for the species, and we take comfort in knowing she lived a long, healthy life. We appreciate time and space as we cope with this loss.'
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According to Animal Adventure, the facility's surveillance cameras captured Johari's passing just before 6 a.m. on Saturday. She was discovered by keepers shortly after. There is no evidence of illness, injury, entrapment, or entanglement.
Animal Adventure says Johari, like all of the other giraffes, received the highest standard of care from an expert team of veterinarians.
'Johari received monthly examinations by the zoo's veterinary team, and the 20-year-old female giraffe has been in good health,' Jonathan Bergmann, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, said. 'The necropsy will provide complete details, but at this time, an acute cardiac event is suspected.'
Following her death, Johari was escorted by the Patch family to Cornell University for a necropsy to determine the specific cause of death.
The average life expectancy for giraffes in human care is 20 to 25 years.
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