Jenga the giraffe tragically died at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on October 23rd at just eight years old – a fraction of the natural lifespan of giraffes in the wild. He lived his life in a small, cold enclosure, nothing like the natural habitat of his wild counterparts.
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Scroll down to learn more about Jenga’s sad death and ongoing welfare concerns at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
Vancouver Sun
“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.”
“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.”
CBC Radio: The Early Edition
“In the wild, giraffes live in large herds; they have a large home range. Their natural habitat is typically arid and dry. They’re browsing animals that are adapted to foraging and feeding predominantly on leaves and stems of trees and shrubs.”
“But at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, Jenga lived a very different life. He lived with only a couple of other giraffes in a small and barren enclosure with little to no opportunity to engage in many of those natural behaviours.”
Daily Hive
“The Vancouver Humane Society calls the death tragic and suggests that Jenga’s life was not the life a giraffe deserves. It adds that while Jenga died at eight years old, giraffes generally live up to 25 years in the wild.”
“The Vancouver Humane Society is reminding the public of several incidents since 2019 regarding the well-being of animals at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.”
“Vancouver Humane Society issued a statement on the ‘tragic life and death of Jenga the giraffe,’ urging the zoo to address ‘ongoing welfare issues.'”
“‘We’re saddened to learn of the death of another animal at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Jenga the giraffe was only eight years old, which is a fraction of the lifespan for giraffes in the wild,’ said campaign director Emily Pickett in a release. ‘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.'”