Fresno Chaffee Zoo has announced the death of Baba, a female reticulated giraffe who was one of the oldest of her species in the United States. Baba, aged 31, was euthanized on Friday due to declining health caused by age-related conditions, including advanced arthritis. She had lived at the zoo for 30 years.
Dr. Audrey Siegrist, senior director of veterinary services at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, explained that staff had been managing Baba’s arthritis with medication and other treatments for several years. “In the last few days, it became clear that her arthritis had progressed to the point that we could no longer prevent further pain,” Siegrist said. “We made the difficult but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize Baba while she was surrounded by her herd and care givers. We will miss her tremendously.”
Zoo Director and CEO Jon Forrest Dohlin highlighted Baba’s role as a symbol for both the zoo and her species. “She was an important part of our Zoo’s history and became an enduring symbol of longevity for her species,” Dohlin said. “Her loss will be felt deeply by our entire Zoo staff and the community.”
Baba stood 15 feet tall and frequently participated in giraffe feeding events where visitors interacted with her by offering lettuce leaves. Over her time at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, she gave birth to seven calves and played a key role in establishing the zoo’s giraffe herd. Her son Jabari remains at the zoo as its tallest resident at 17 feet.
