North American AZA Generic Giraffe Population

0.1 generic giraffe "Sue Ellen" has died aged 25 at the Hattiesburg Zoo.
Hattiesburg Zoo on Instagram: "The Hattiesburg Zoo is heartbroken to share the passing of its beloved Reticulated Giraffe, Sue Ellen, who passed away on Monday, November 17th. At 25 years old, she enjoyed a long, full life. The average life expectancy of a giraffe in a zoo is 25–26 years, while in the wild it is 17–20 years. Sue Ellen had been experiencing age-related osteoarthritis for about a year, and the Zoo shared her condition with the public in mid-October 2025. Throughout her symptoms, her animal care and veterinary teams worked tirelessly to ease her pain through medications, joint supplements, hydrotherapy, and softer habitat substrates. “Our team worked together to relieve Sue Ellen’s joint pain through a multitude of treatments to ensure that she was as comfortable as possible, but despite our best efforts we continued to see a decline in her health,” said Dr. Julia MacGregor, Zoo Veterinarian. After extensive discussions and careful consideration, the teams made the difficult decision to say goodbye through humane euthanasia. Sue Ellen was surrounded by her keepers and those who cared for her. Assisting Dr. MacGregor were Dr. Kanyon McLean and staff from Global Wildlife Center, and Dr. Kaylin McNulty and pathology residents from Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Sue Ellen had a special love for children, often approaching the feeding platform even on days she didn’t feel her best. As one of the Zoo’s first two giraffes, arriving in May 2021, she will be deeply missed and will hold a special place in the hearts of all who visited her. The Hattiesburg Zoo staff knows Sue Ellen has been part of so many guests’ memories and mourns this loss with them. “We thank our guests for their support and compassion as our teams grieve the passing of this beloved member of the Hattiesburg Zoo family,” said Kristen Moore, Director of Wildlife. Daily giraffe feedings may operate differently over the next week or two as Alberta (Bertie) and Grace adjust to the loss of their herd mate. “We do not know if they will be standoffish while they grieve,” said Moore. “We will need to be patient and give them time to settle into their new normal.”"
 
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