Workers at Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park are mourning the loss of one the zoo's oldest giraffes.
Photo: RNZ
Nathalie, a 25-year-old giraffe, was only the second ever to be born at the park and gave birth to six calves herself.
Exotic mammals head keeper Rob Clifford said Nathalie was a grand old lady and one of the nicest giraffes he had worked with. Thousands of visitors had had the chance to hand feed Nathalie over the years, he said.
A post mortem was carried out this afternoon and staff were waiting on pathology results to confirm the cause of death.
The death takes Orana's giraffe herd to four animals.