MIAMI – A 12-year-old giraffe dealing with worsening hoof issues was euthanized, officials at Zoo Miami said.
The giraffe named Pongo had been dealing with issues that included fractures, pain and difficulty walking, the zoo said in a statement posted Monday on Facebook.
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The health team performed a series of treatments, hoping that Pongo would heal without the need to immobilize for a second time, the statement said. The treatments were not effective.
On Monday morning, the team immobilized Pongo to perform detailed X-rays, which revealed that the giraffe had fractured his foot within the past two weeks in a way that prevented successful treatment.
“The painful decision was made to euthanize him while he was still under anesthesia,” the statement said.