DALLAS (AP) — Officials say a 1-year-old giraffe at the Dallas Zoo that was named after Cowboys tight end Jason Witten died during a medical exam.
Zoo officials tweeted that Witten the giraffe stopped breathing Monday during a medical exam to prepare him for transfer to a zoo in Canada for a breeding program. It says he had been anesthetized for the exam and had been healthy going into it. Efforts to revive him failed.
WITTEN UPDATE: Thank you for your outpouring of love and support over the loss of our beloved giraffe Witten. Yesterday was a tragic whirlwind, but we’ve read all of your comments and it lifts our spirits immensely to know we have the best supporters in the world. pic.twitter.com/lbBeEUMLYr
— Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo)
June 18, 2019 A necropsy has been ordered.
Witten was born in April 2018 and named in honor of the Dallas Cowboys player who had recently retired.
Jason Witten announced he is returning to the Cowboys this year following one season as a TV sportscaster.
