The Dallas Zoo has concluded an investigation into the deaths of two giraffes this fall. The deaths happened just a few weeks apart, and zoo officials wanted to determine if the cases were linked.
The zoo's investigation and a panel of outside experts both determined there was no connection between the two events.
The older giraffe, a 19-year-old named Auggie, died from severe liver disease. The younger animal, 15-year-old Jesse, died from ulcerative colitis.
Staffers tested the animals' food along with soil, water and other items from their habitat to find out if they had been exposed to any possible toxins. They also checked for communicable diseases and parasites and performed blood tests on some other animals at the zoo. They did not identify any contaminants in the environment.
The Dallas Zoo also consulted with some outside experts to review their findings, and officials say they also concluded that the two deaths were not related. Zoo officials posted a message on-line saying they're confident they've done everything possible to protect the other giraffes in their care.
Related
