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Posted: Nov 27, 2025 / 02:18 PM EST
Updated: Nov 27, 2025 / 02:18 PM EST
A rare and unique giraffe named Kipekee, who was born without spots, has passed away at a zoo in Tennessee. The beloved giraffe had celebrated her second birthday on July 31.
Brights Zoo, situated in the northeastern part of Limestone, shared the sad news on Wednesday afternoon. In their statement, they noted, “Kipekee captured the hearts of millions globally, and she held a particularly cherished spot in the hearts of those who had the honor of caring for her daily.”
While her cause of death is yet unknown, the zoo said it’s working with veterinarians and consultants and that a necropsy will be performed to determine what happened.
Kipekee grabbed international attention when she was born in July 2023. News outlets from the Associated Press to the Today Show reported on the rare giraffe, and the zoo saw an influx of visitors as news spread.
At the time of her birth, Kipekee was thought to be perhaps the only spotless giraffe to be discovered in the world, however, very coincidentally, as reported by NPR and National Geographic, another spotless baby giraffe was spotted at a private reserve in Namibia in September 2023.
Kipekee’s absence will be sorely missed at the zoo, as she was a popular attraction — in addition to being popular among zoo staff.
Brights Zoo added in its announcement: “She was truly the sweetest soul and deeply loved her keepers.”
