Giraffe dies at Toronto zoo in 'sudden and tragic' accident

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Images: The Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo community is mourning the death of one of its animals in the new year. 

The zoo shared on social media last week that its 13-year-old male Masai giraffe, Kiko, died in a "sudden and tragic" accident. 

What happened:

The zoo said the accident happened on New Year’s Day when Kiko was given access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat. 

"True to his curious nature, he began exploring the space and tragically became caught in an opening door. Masai giraffes have relatively delicate heads supported by a six-foot neck capable of moving forward, backward, up, down, and side to side, allowing their head position to shift quickly. Despite the team’s immediate response, Kiko panicked and sustained injuries that, due to the unique anatomy of his species, proved fatal," the zoo wrote. 

What they're saying:

"This loss is impacting Kiko’s Wildlife Care team particularly hard, as shifting giraffes is a normal routine they have done thousands of times without incident," the zoo wrote on social media. 

RELATED: San Diego Zoo’s oldest resident, 141-year-old tortoise Gramma, dies

Big picture view:

Kiko had been part of a cooperative breeding program among accredited zoos. His legacy lives on as he sired two calves, with a third due in early 2026, the zoo said. 

"While we mourn this significant loss, we are focused on supporting our team as well as Mstari as she is in the later stages of her pregnancy," the zoo added. 

Local perspective:

Kiko came to the Toronto Zoo from Greenville Zoo in South Carolina, where he was born in 2012.

The zoo says on its website that life spans of Masai giraffes reach up to 25 years in the wild, and can extend to more than 30 in captivity. 

What you can do:

The zoo asks to keep its staff and volunteers in your thoughts and join them in remembering and honoring Kiko – "a magnificent giraffe who touched so many hearts."