Zoo of Northwest Florida Giraffe Dies

13-year-old Colby died after inhaling vomit into his lungs.

By: | WKRG
Published: February 17, 2009

» Comments | Post a Comment

GULF BREEZE, Fla. (AP) - A male giraffe at The Zoo of Northwest
Florida died over the weekend after a bout of heavy vomiting.
A zoo staffer heard loud noises coming from the giraffe barn on
Sunday afternoon and found 13-year-old Colby lying down and trying
to get up. The zoo veterinarian tried to treat the animal but Colby
died after inhaling vomit into his lungs.
A preliminary necropsy showed Colby had significant lung damage
from prior episodes of pneumonia, as well as severe arthritis in
his hips, which would have make it hard for him to lift his own
weight and stand up.
Colby was at the Panhandle facility on breeding loan from the
Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)