Jenga the giraffe has died at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
“We’re saddened to learn of the death of another animal at the Greater Vancouver Zoo,” said Vancouver Humane Society campaign director Emily Pickett on Thursday.
“Jenga the giraffe was only 8 years old, which is a fraction of the lifespan for giraffes in the wild.”
News of Jenga’s death came Wednesday evening in a statement posted by the Aldergrove-based zoo.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Jenga, our beloved eight-year-old giraffe,” it read.
“Jenga was found at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, peacefully resting in his barn stall, just moments after he was seen enjoying his afternoon meal in the giraffe yard.
“Jenga has left us far too soon.”
A necropsy is underway to determine a cause of death. A statement from the zoo notes that the other giraffes at the zoo — which include Jagar, 6, and Milo, 4 — “continue to display normal, healthy behaviour.”
Eileen Drever with the B.C. SPCA said her organization will also be conducting an investigation into Jenga’s death.
Jenga was born May 1, 2016 in Ontario, and is a Baringo/Rothchild giraffe, which is native to eastern South Sudan, southwestern Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
He joined the zoo in 2018, after a new shelter was built and major renovations were conducted to the giraffe barn. At the time, the zoo housed one other giraffe named Pompey, who is no longer listed on the zoo’s website. It’s unclear when Jagar and Milo joined the zoo.
“Giraffes, majestic and gentle creatures, are currently facing a silent extinction, with wild populations declining due to habitat loss and poaching,” the zoo said in its statement.
“Jenga was a symbol of our commitment to conservation, and his memory will live on as we continue our mission to safeguard the future of these incredible animals.”
Giraffes are reported to have a median life expectancy of between 14 to 20 years, with some living up to 25 years in the wild. According to conservation groups, there are about 117,000 giraffes left worldwide.
Jenga is not the first animal death at the zoo. Between 2003 and 2015, the deaths of four giraffes, four zebras, two hippos and two Siberian tigers were reported, according to the Vancouver Humane Society.
In November 2011, a three-year-old giraffe named Amryn died. Just days later, its mother Eleah, 23, also died. A year later in November 2012, Eleah’s mate Jafari, 12, was found dead.
While the cause of Amryn and Eleah’s deaths don’t appear to have been made public, independent giraffe pathologists determined that Jafari had died due to a degenerative brain disease possibly linked to bacteria in his stomach.
The 48-hectare zoo has been under scrutiny after a few incidents, including a three-day search-and-rescue operation after more than a dozen wolves escaped in 2022.
It has also changed ownership several times, most recently in 2015. At the time, the anonymous owner brought in respected zoologist Bernard Harrison — who was critical of mismanaged zoos — to help develop a 20-year master plan for the B.C. facility.
Conservationist Serge Lussier was later brought in as the new general manager in 2020; his hiring was accompanied by the announcement the zoo planned to spend $20 million over five years to evolve the zoo’s operations. That plan was slowed by the pandemic.
In June 2019, the Vancouver Humane Society released a review conducted by Zoocheck that raised concerns, including whether there was adequate shelter for giraffes, and the ability and resources to meet a giraffe’s extensive dietary needs.
The 2019 report also noted improvements had been made since its first report in 1997, but there was work to do.
“The Vancouver Humane Society has been calling on the zoo for many years to address long-standing animal welfare issues and to move away from keeping animals in permanent captivity,” said Pickett.
Announcing Jenga’s death this week, the zoo said a recent inspection renewed its accreditation with Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums body. In 2021, the zoo also joined the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Postmedia has reached out to the Greater Vancouver Zoo for comment.
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