MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Brevard Zoo is mourning the loss of its oldest male giraffe.
In a social media post on Monday, the zoo shared that Doc “passed away despite our best efforts to manage his ongoing mobility and health issues”, and succumbed to complications related to his age.
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Known as a “gentle giant”, Doc was one of the original five giraffes when Expedition Africa opened in 2003. He was the only reticulated Rothschild giraffe among the tower of Masai giraffes in recent years, according to the zoo.
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the median lifespan for male giraffes is 16.5 years. At 22, Doc had surpassed this life expectancy, but he faced significant challenges in his later years.
His mobility issues were closely monitored, and a treatment plan was developed that included pain medication and regular hoof trims to keep him comfortable. Recent signs indicated that this treatment was no longer effective, the zoo said.
The zoo explored innovative methods to address Doc’s mobility concerns, including thermography and custom-made polyurethane shoes for additional support. However, Doc began to exhibit more serious symptoms, such as muscle loss, behavioral changes, and nosebleeds. After careful consideration, the difficult decision was made to euthanize him to prevent further suffering.
A necropsy is planned to provide more insight into the underlying medical issues that affected Doc.
Doc was born on May 26, 2002, at Zoo Knoxville and quickly became a favorite among the animal care team, volunteers, and guests alike.
Senior Africa keeper Cindy Watson fondly recalls Doc’s bond with female giraffe, Kumi.
“I love how those two would hang out and how Doc was always there for Kumi,” Watson said. “Kumi seemed to really enjoy Doc’s company and seemed more confident when Doc was around her.”
The zoo said Doc played a pivotal role in the zoo’s hoof trim program, being one of the first giraffes trained by keeper Morgan Thums.
“You could always count on him to be at the platform eating lettuce from guests, and when he wasn’t there, he was usually spending time with his ‘girlfriend’ Kumi,” Thums said. “Doc is one of the sweetest giraffes I have ever cared for, and I am going to miss him greatly.”
