DENVER – The Denver Zoo announced Thursday that it euthanized Dikembe, the oldest male giraffe in North America.
The zoo said the 24-year-old giraffe sired 17 giraffes, including Dobby the giraffe who was born in February 2017.
Zookeepers said they had recently treated Dikembe for numerous health issues and made the decision to put him down because he “began showing signs his quality of life had declined.”
The zoo said, “He will be remembered fondly as gentle, charismatic and goofy, and for the tremendous contributions he made to his vulnerable species during his exceptionally long life.”
