KEY POINTS:
Auckland Zoo has lost one of its favourite animals with the sudden death of its popular giraffe Kay.
Kay, who was born at the zoo in 1986, died a few minutes after falling in the zoo's giraffe paddock about 9.45am today.
"Kay's death is a real shock to us all, coming without any warning, and naturally staff are very upset," Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said.
"Kay has been in very good health to date. However, she is considered old in giraffe years."
Kay lived in the Pridelands enclosure and was the mother of six offspring. Her daughter Ntombi has been identified for breeding as part of the Australasian giraffe breeding programme.
Pridelands team leader Michael Batty, who was at the zoo when Kay was born, said she had been a wonderful mother and a very good companion to other giraffes in the zoo herd.
A post-mortem examination is being carried out this afternoon to try to determine the cause of Kay's death.
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
