BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Brevard Zoo announced on Tuesday the loss of Floyd, a cherished 9-year-old Masai giraffe, who was humanely euthanized following persistent health concerns.
“He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed,” expressed Morgan, a keeper in the zoo’s Expedition Africa section.
In recent weeks, Floyd had shown increasing difficulty in walking. His condition deteriorated from mild lameness to a point where he could barely support himself on his right front leg.
In an effort to diagnose the underlying issue, the zoo performed a comprehensive examination that necessitated anesthesia.
Administering anesthesia to giraffes poses risks due to their unique anatomical structure, and Floyd’s mobility challenges further compounded these risks, the zoo explained.
During the exam, the zoo found that Floyd sustained a significant fracture on his right front foot.
Despite a smooth procedure, Floyd was unable to stand up after anesthesia.
“This was likely due to a combination of factors, including pain from the fracture in his foot and loss of function in the tendons of that leg. Our team knew this was a risk going in, and they did everything they could to help give him the best chance of recovering well. Our team attempted to aid him by hoisting him onto his feet several times; however, this was unsuccessful,” The Brevard Zoo said.
Floyd was born at the Brevard Zoo in 2017 to mom Johari and dad Rafiki. He was known for his sweet demeanor and was loved by the animal care team.
“As an apprentice keeper, Floyd was an amazing animal to work with,” said Expedition Africa keeper Faith. “He always had a calm but goofy demeanor.”