Tragedy as Nashville Zoo Giraffe Dies Hours After Birth

ragedy as Nashville Zoo Giraffe Dies Hours After Birth

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: January 17, 2021 10:40 pm

Nasha with her calf soon after its birth

Photo Credit: Jonathon Hankins/ Nashville Zoo

Keepers at Nashville Zoo are in mourning after their giraffe calf born earlier today passed away soon after its birth.

Mother Nasha went in to labor with thousands of people tuning in as part of a livestream organized by local TV station WKRN. Unfortunately soon after Nasha entered labor it became evident that there were complications.

With assistance from Dr. Matthew DeLisle from Tennessee Equine Hospital, the Zoo’s veterinary team was able to successfully deliver the calf.

“The calf appeared to be thriving on an initial exam, said Dr. Heather Schwartz, Nashville Zoo’s Director of Veterinary Medicine. “We moved the newborn to be with her mother and the two were bonding. During this time, Nasha may have inadvertently injured her calf. The giraffe keepers noticed that the calf was in distress.”

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Despite intervention by the animal care they were not able to successfully save the calf. An initial necropsy indicated trauma to the neck but further testing will allow the vets to determine the underlying cause for the newborn’s death.

“We are devastated over the loss of Nasha’s calf,” said Rick Schwartz, Nashville Zoo’s President, and CEO. “Our staff has worked tirelessly to make sure this calf was given the best possible care. We moved from fear of a stillborn to joy of revival to anguish.”

This was Nasha’s first calf. Keepers will work to give her an abundance of comfort over the coming days and weeks.