Marwell Zoo announces the death of a baby giraffe

A Hampshire zoo has announced the death of a “miraculous” three-month-old baby giraffe.

Marwell Zoo said Mbonisi, a Rothschild giraffe born in August, died after becoming infected.

The calf surprised zookeepers When he was born, his mother, Ruby, was on contraceptives.

In a statement, the zoo said Mbonisi’s death was “deeply felt” and that the giraffe had “quickly captured all of our hearts.”

The statement described Mbonisi as having a “determined and curious spirit”.

“Although he survived an early infection as a newborn, his condition remained delicate and there was a high risk of further complications,” the zoo said.

Staff said zookeepers and the veterinary team had been closely monitoring Mbonisi in recent weeks after tests showed he had developed another infection.

His condition worsened on Thursday as the infection progressed.

The zoo said: “Our teams did everything they could to save Mbonisi, but unfortunately it became clear that euthanasia was the best option to prevent further suffering.”

It was confirmed that a full post-mortem would be carried out to understand the cause of Mbonisi’s condition.

“Mbonisi was loved by all who met him and his loss will be deeply felt, especially by his dedicated zookeepers and veterinary team who cared for him every day,” it said.

“We respectfully ask for your understanding and respect so that our animal care teams have some privacy as they process this loss.

“As always, thank you for your compassion and support during this difficult time.”