Hamilton Zoo giraffe dies during routine health check

Hamilton Zoo says its “beloved” 19-year-old giraffe Dume died during a routine health check.

• Hamilton Zoo staff are grieving the loss of 19-year-old giraffe Dume during a routine health check.
• Dume’s death, caused by complications during anaesthesia, has deeply affected the zoo team.
• The zoo is reviewing the incident and ensuring the wellbeing of its remaining giraffes, Masamba and Jabali.

Hamilton Zoo director Baird Fleming said staff were “severely impacted” by the loss of beloved 19-year-old giraffe Dume.

Dume’s death occurred during a routine health check to correct hoof disease, which discovered some serious dental issues.

While the death of an animal is a natural process and not something unexpected for zoo employees and volunteers, Fleming said it was also “the last thing we want to happen”.

“It’s soul-crushing for everyone. It’s a really hard thing for our staff to deal with,” Fleming said.

But Fleming said the team would come together and support each other through the grieving process.

“He was a sweet boy,” Fleming said of Dume.

“He’s been with us for most of his life. I think the best way to describe him would be ‘sceptical’.”

Fleming said the zoo’s two remaining giraffes, Masamba and Jabali, were aware that Dume had died.

“He and Masamba always hung out together. He was very sceptical of Jabali when [Jabali] first came on.”

Dume, a 19-year-old giraffe, died under anaesthetic while being treated for hoof disease.

Jabali was brought down from Auckland Zoo in July.

“It’s hard to know how [the loss] is going to affect them because we can’t ask them.”

Fleming said the keepers built relationships with the animals to establish each giraffe’s normal behaviour and monitor changes.

“We’ll be able to look at them tomorrow and see how they are going to be impacted,” Fleming said.

“That’s part of what our team does. We are keepers. We are caretakers.

“Our motto is, ‘Happy, healthy, safe’.”

Fleming said after a necropsy, the animal version of an autopsy, Dume was buried on zoo grounds. His death was announced this afternoon.

Hamilton Zoo head veterinarian Richard Sim said Dume was one of the zoo’s oldest giraffes.

“We’ve loved him at Hamilton Zoo for many years and are gutted by his passing.”

Sim said Dume was undergoing a routine exam to correct hoof disease and check his teeth when he died.

“With huge, tall animals, there is always a risk with anaesthesia. We did everything we could to prepare and be ready to deal with any eventuality,” Sim said.

“But his complications during the anaesthetic were too severe and we lost him while we were treating his problems.

“We will miss him greatly.”

The zoo’s statement expressed condolences to staff, volunteers and community members who shared a special bond with Dume.

“We are conducting a thorough review to understand the circumstances and ensure the continued wellbeing of all our animals.”

Dume’s death comes after the loss of Ndale, another 19-year-old giraffe, after a fall in February last year.

Another 19-year-old giraffe at Hamilton Zoo, Ndale, died after a fall in February last year.

“Ndale died after an accidental fall that took place overnight, following a general check-up procedure undertaken yesterday,” zoo officials said at the time.

Ndale was found on the ground and unable to stand. Zoo staff were able to get him to his feet but he later collapsed, stopped breathing and died.

When asked if Hamilton Zoo was planning to procure a third giraffe, Fleming said Hamilton Zoo was part of the Species Management Plan for the Australasia Region.

“We have signed on to take on any male giraffe that needs a home.”

However, Fleming said giraffes needed to be received before the age of 2, otherwise they became too tall to transport.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She has previously written for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.