![[Translate to English:] Eine Netzgiraffe blickt in die Kamera, es sind nur Hals und Kopf zu sehen.](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/8/csm_tierpark-hellabrunn-netzgiraffe-bahati-trauer-afrika_ec357d0d18.jpeg)
The 14-year-old female showed no signs of being unwell before her sudden death. There was also nothing to indicate that a tragic accident had occurred in her enclosure. In addition, visitors who were at the habitat at the time of the incident did not observe anything unusual.
Zoo director Rasem Baban said: "When an animal dies so unexpectedly, it is naturally a shock for everyone involved – especially for the animal care team and the veterinarians. Bahati was immediately taken to the pathology department." Senior veterinarian Dr Christine Gohl added: “Preliminary results indicate non-external trauma to the front of the neck, which could have led to death very quickly. However, we must await further examinations to determine the exact cause.”
Bahati was born at Frankfurt Zoo. She came to Hellabrunn in 2013 at the age of two. With her passing, there are now three female giraffes living at the zoo in Munich: Baridi (10 years old), Makena (10 years old), and Zawadi (9 years old). Hellabrunn Zoo participates in the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) for reticulated giraffes and is committed to protecting this endangered species.
Giraffes have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years in the wild; in human care they can live up to 25 years.