[InKunming--Kunming] At 1:25 pm on April 16th, a 10-year-old giraffe named ‘Hairong’ used the tree to scratch itches, and accidentally got its neck stuck between branches which resulted in a severe neck injury in Kunming Zoo. The staff and vets immediately used a ladder to reach Hairong’s head and tried to cut one of the branches off with electric saw.

In the meantime, Hairong also tried to get himself out of the branches, but he was lodged tightly and his body was too heavy to move. He fell down after the branch was cut. Vets and staff put his head up and took a infusion.

“During the emergency treatment, the giraffe became faint after several times to try to stand up, and sadly he died at 6:40 pm.” Wang Ang, the vet of Kunming zoo said.

As introduced, there were four giraffes in Kunming Zoo, and Hairong was the largest one. He could not mate successfully with peers until this unfortunate death.

Giraffe is normally in 4 to 6 meters in height, and it is the world’s highest terrestrial animals. Once falling down, it may cause a fracture, and it is not easy to stand up from the ground. Therefore, the giraffe basically does not lie down even in sleeping time.

Additionally, the giraffe’s normal blood pressure is 300 which is three times of the average of person. The blood will flow to the head when the giraffe fall down, and can lead to a high intracranial pressure, stroke, fainting, and cardiac failure.

In this rescue, Hairong’s head was raised up immediately when he was freed from the branch, but the naughty Hairong was dead eventually.

According to Wang, giraffes normally live for 20 to 30 years, with a slightly longer life in captivity. Hairong will be dissected to see if his organs changed after the accident, and provides guidance for the future work of feeding giraffes.

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(Editors: Christine, Rachel)