15-year-old giraffe falls unexpectedly dallas zoo A beloved animal failed to recover from its injuries, leading to a tragic end.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of Ferrell, a 15-year-old giraffe,” the Dallas Zoo posted on Facebook.
The zoo announced that Ferrell suffered a jaw injury in an unexpected fall inside the barn late Friday night, Dec. 29.
The zoo said its animal care and veterinary teams quickly assessed his condition and determined the injury required surgical evaluation.
The zoo said that during the procedure, the team discovered that he had dislocated his jaw in a way that could not be repaired surgically.
“Jaw dislocations are difficult to treat even in small animals, but the giraffe's size and anatomy precluded any reasonable repair. “He has limited use of his tongue and is likely to require partial or complete amputation in the future,” the zoo said.
The zoo announced that given the prognosis and the impact on Ferrell's quality of life, the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the giraffe on New Year's Eve.
Unfortunately, this wasn't Ferrell's first jaw injury.
The zoo posted that Ferrell suffered a jaw injury and problems with his tongue more than 13 years ago.
The zoo added that Ferrell did not have the ability to keep his tongue in his mouth, although he was able to use it.
The new injury caused further damage to his tongue, severely limiting his continued use of it and making eating nearly impossible, the zoo said.
“We are all completely heartbroken by this sudden loss. We ask that you please keep our staff in your thoughts as we work through this difficult time. Everyone who knew Ferrell “Ferrell will be greatly missed by the public,” the zoo concluded.
