Giraffe Euthanized At Seattle Zoo

Ain, a 9-year-old giraffe at the Woodland Park Zoo, has been put down after going into shock following treatment for diarrhea and weight loss.

Dr. Janis Joslin, senior veterinarian at the zoo, said Ain (pronounced eye-EEN’) was given medication Saturday and again Sunday for chronic diarrhea.

The animal reacted adversely Sunday and her condition worsened further after medication for the reaction was administered, Joslin said. Eventually the giraffe stumbled and fell down Sunday night.

“Once she was on the ground and continued to traumatize herself, she went into shock,” Joslin said. “Our only option was to euthanize her.”

A necropsy Monday did not show an obvious cause of death, zoo spokeswoman Gigi Ogilvie said. Zoo officials hope to learn more about the cause of the animal’s illness and death from test results expected in a few weeks.

Private donations were used to acquire the giraffe, which arrived in Seattle from the Denver Zoo in 1990.