An unexpected fall by a 15-year-old giraffe at the Dallas Zoo had a tragic end as the beloved animal was unable to recover from its injuries.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our 15-year-old giraffe, Ferrell,” the Dallas Zoo posted on Facebook.
The zoo posted that late on Friday, December 29, Ferrell suffered a jaw injury after an unexpected fall in the barn.
According to the zoo, its veterinary and animal care teams quickly assessed his condition and determined that the injury required surgical consultation.
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A 15-year-old giraffe was euthanized after an expected fall inside the Dallas Zoo. (Dallas Zoo)
During the procedure, the team discovered that he had dislocated his jaw in such a way that surgery could not repair it, the zoo said.
“Jaw dislocations, even in smaller animals, are difficult to treat, but the size and anatomy of a giraffe made any type of reasonable repair difficult. The nature of this injury meant that Ferrell would face limitations in the use of his jaw. and tongue, would likely require partial or complete amputation of his tongue in the future,” the zoo said.
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Mother giraffe Chrystal with her newborn calf at the Dallas Zoo. (Dallas Zoo)
Due to the prognosis and the impact on Ferrell’s quality of life, the zoo said the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the giraffe on New Year’s Eve.
Unfortunately, this was not the first injury Ferrell suffered to his jaw. The zoo said Ferrell had previously suffered a jaw injury more than 13 years ago, which caused problems with his tongue.
The zoo added that despite being able to use it, Ferrell lacked the ability to keep his tongue in his mouth. The new injury further damaged his tongue, which would have severely limited his ability to continue using his tongue, making it nearly impossible for him to eat, the zoo said.
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A 131-pound giraffe was born at the Dallas Zoo on March 19. (Dallas Zoo)
“This sudden loss has left us all completely heartbroken. We kindly ask that you keep our staff in your thoughts as we go through this difficult time. Ferrell will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” the zoo concluded.
