Farewell to Mbonisi, our much-loved giraffe calf

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our much-loved Rothschild’s giraffe calf, Mbonisi. Born in August to first-time mother Ruby, Mbonisi quickly captured all our hearts with his determined and curious spirit. Although he overcame an early infection as a newborn, his condition remained delicate and there was a high risk of further complications.

In recent weeks, our dedicated keepers and veterinary team have been closely monitoring Mbonisi after tests showed he had developed another infection. Despite undergoing intensive treatment, his condition worsened yesterday, strongly suggesting that the infection had significantly progressed. Our teams did everything they possibly could to try to save Mbonisi, but sadly, it became evident that euthanasia was the best option to prevent further suffering. A full post mortem will now take place to enable us to better understand the cause of his condition.

Mbonisi was loved by all who met him and his loss will be felt deeply, especially by his devoted keepers and veterinary team who cared for him each day. We respectfully ask for your understanding and respect to allow our animal care teams some privacy while they come to terms with our loss.

Thank you, as always, for your compassion and support during this difficult time.