On January 20. 2014, Ginetta the Toronto Zoo's 30 year old Masai giraffe passed away.
Born at the Toronto Zoo in 1983, she lived longer than 96% of the females in the North American population - it is estimated that a giraffe can live to 20 - 25 years of age in the wild.
Ginetta gave birth to five calves, has ten grandkids and seven great grandkids. This is a very significant genetic contribution to the Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan (SSP). She was a loving Aunt to many of the calfs born at the Toronto Zoo, including Mstari born to Mom Twiga in October 2013.
Her keepers remember Ginetta as a nurturing, wise and intelligent giraffe, who's favourite food was onions. As with the passing of any animal, a post mortem examination will be conducted.
Giraffes are listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). However, Masai giraffe populations in the wild are a minimum of just over 24,000 in protected areas in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda and numbers are declining. Toronto Zoo saves and protects animals and their habitats at home and abroad.