Abilene Zoo mourns death of baby giraffe

The Abilene Zoo announced Tuesday that one of its young giraffes died suddenly.

Makena, a one-year-and-ten-month-old female giraffe "passed away unexpectedly from natural causes during the early morning hours on Monday, April 8th,"

Makena was born at the Abilene Zoo in June of 2022, to her mother, 12-year-old Jamie, and father, 8-year-old Congo. She was the third calf born to her mother Jamie.

Makena grew up with her half-brother, Fennessy. Born just two months apart, "the duo delighted visitors with their energy and playful games displayed among the giraffe herd," according to a news release.

The news release also noted that the cause of Makena's death is currently unknown. While a "full necropsy has been performed," the staff are now awaiting the final results.

Denae Duesler, development manager at the zoo, said that the Abilene Zoo might wait several months before getting an answer from the recent necropsy.

Duesler also said that Jamie had bonded with Makena and had mourned her passing along with the entire herd of five giraffes. She noted, however, that giraffes usually experience a shorter mourning period than humans.

Giraffes must mourn and move on faster, according to their natural instincts, as there are still predators in the wild after mourning.

Philip Nigro, animal care supervisor at the zoo, said that Makena was a shyer giraffe, who rarely ventured up to the feeding deck.

"So when she did, it was a real treat for our visitors," he said. "Her sweet nature made her a favorite among the keepers.”

The Abilene Zoo said it is "grateful to the community that shared in the joy that Makena brought during her life and is thankful for their thoughts and prayers during this challenging time."

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Zoo mourns death of baby giraffe