EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso Zoo announced on Tuesday, July 15, that its elderly reticulated giraffe Juma had died, according to a press release from the City of El Paso.
The City says Juma was humanely euthanized on Monday, July 14, due to “a sudden and irreversible decline in his quality of life.”
Juma, who was 18 years old, had been living with arthritis for several years, the City said.
“Unfortunately, some of the joints in his feet deteriorated to the point where they could no longer support his 2,000-pound frame,” said Dr. Victoria Milne, Chief Veterinarian. “This progression was irreversible, and to prevent further pain or the risk of sudden collapse, humane euthanasia was the most compassionate choice.”
Juma had been part of the El Paso Zoo for 15 years and was one of the original residents of the Zoo’s Africa section.
Juma arrived at the El Paso Zoo at the age of three and was joined by a female giraffe, Gigi. They both had two male calves, 2-year-old Obi and 1-year-old Tesoro. Both calves remain at the zoo with their mother, the City said.
“Juma will be deeply missed by our staff, his keepers, and the community,” said Zoo Director Joe Montisano. “He was a sweet, trusting, and social giraffe—curious, a bit mischievous, and always eager to engage with guests. If you ever fed a giraffe at the Zoo, chances are it was Juma. While end-of-life care is a necessary part of our responsibility, it never gets easier. We share this loss with our animal care team and the entire El Paso community, but take comfort in knowing we gave him the best life possible.”
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