Pittsburgh Zoo announces death of beloved giraffe

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is mourning the loss of a beloved giraffe.

The zoo said its 17-year-old female Masai giraffe, Sox, was humanely euthanized on Friday.

Sox had chronic degeneration of the bones in her leg. She had been struggling with the condition since last summer. Zoo officials said she had been undergoing treatment since the issue began but her condition quickly worsened last week and she stopped responding to pain management efforts.

Officials said zoo veterinarians worked with a group of outside experts, a technician who specializes in giraffe immobilizations and a farrier who works with hooved animals across the country to assess the situation before the decision to euthanize Sox was made. The team even gave her an x-ray to determine there were no other options.

Sox was a fan favorite at the zoo that both staff and guests will deeply miss.

“Sox was one of the keepers’ favorites,” said Lead Keeper Lisa Caruso. “She was smart and curious and loved to train and learn new things, lie in the sun, and eat bananas. Sox especially loved her friend Spencer the zebra, with whom she shared her exhibit.”

Sox spent her time with a sociable male giraffe, Lewis.

She was born at the Frankin Park Zoo in Boston on Oct. 25, 2007. She got her name because the Boston Red Sox were in the middle of a sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series at that time.

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