MELBOURNE, Florida -- Duncan, an 11-year old Reticulated Giraffe, was euthanized late Wednesday afternoon after
Brevard Zoo veterinary professionals determined that there was virtually no chance he would recover
from the onset of capture myopathy.
Born at the Knoxville Zoo, Duncan was one of the first giraffes to
arrive at Brevard Zoo in 2003 for the opening of Expedition Africa. Duncan was known for his reserved
nature and tall stature. He was long and lanky, more than 18-feet tall and the tallest member of the Zoo herd.
Giraffes, like many other hooved animals, are highly susceptible to capture myopathy, which is
a stress-related condition that destroys muscle tissue. Duncan had suffered from chronic lameness in
his front legs for the past two-and-a-half years. The Zoo had been treating Duncan with a combination
of anti-inflammatory medications and rest, but recently the condition had worsened and led to abnormal
hoof growth.
Because of their size and gait, lameness in giraffes is a life-threatening condition, so the
Zoo’s animal care staff prepared Duncan for more aggressive treatment. Duncan was trained to stand
in a restraining chute, so that the veterinary staff could treat him. On Wednesday morning, Duncan was
walked into the chute and given sedatives to calm him. After 50 minutes, the procedure was stopped
because Duncan never settled down. He left the chute under his own power, but then went down on
the ground. He made several attempts to get up but was unsuccessful. Zoo staff administered fluid
and other medications, but after five hours of trying to help Duncan return to a standing position, it was
determined that he was suffering from capture myopathy and would not recover.
“For the last ten years, Brevard Zoo has had a large and growing herd of giraffes, and although
we always knew the day would come when we would lose one, it is still very tough on all the staff and
volunteers who love these remarkable animals,” said Keith Winsten, Executive Director.
“The same unique characteristics that make them so fascinating and attractive, their size and
long necks, make them particularly susceptible to stress and capture myopathy. Once they lie down
under duress, they rarely get up. We carefully weighed the risks of this procedure and felt it was best
for Duncan to treat his lameness more aggressively than to have him fall and perish on his own. This is
a painful loss for our entire Zoo family – our staff, volunteers and Zoo guests.”
Brevard Zoo’s remaining herd includes Raffiki, a breeding male, and Milenna and Johari, two
breeding females, along with their offspring Zanibu, Gage and Sherry Noelani. Also with the herd is
Doc, another male giraffe. Four other giraffe have been born at Brevard Zoo in the last seven years and
now live at other zoos in Florida and Virginia.
Photo Credit: Brevard Zoo
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