January 11, 2008
Goodbye, Germina
Back in September I wrote about our trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The Santa Barbara Zoo has been around for many years, and for the past 21 years what has arguably been the Zoo's number one star is Gemina, The Crooked Neck Giraffe. Germina was born at the San Diego Zoo, and brought to Santa Barbara when she was very young. Sometime during her development her neck took a detour in the form of a sharp angle just a short distance down from her head. According to zoo officials, and from what I have seen personally, Germina never seemed to be in any pain despite the severe angle of her neck.
Yesterday the zoo announced Germina was euthanized. She had started refusing food a couple of weeks ago, and stopped eating all together this week. Twenty-one is considered old age for a giraffe in captivity, but she will still be very much missed by all who knew her.
I am glad I got to see her one last time.
Please check out all the other critters at Friday Ark at The Modulator.
Posted by Jeff at January 11, 2008 3:07 PMIt was her time I guess, but we all hate to lose something or someone who has been in our life for such a long time.
Posted by: momma at January 12, 2008 5:57 PMSo sad to learn of Germina's passing. So glad that she lived a good long life even with her disability. What a lovely girl.
Posted by: Coll at January 15, 2008 10:18 AM