Daisy, matriarch of Como Zoo giraffe herd, euthanized at 23

Nick Woltman, Pioneer Press
·1 min read

Como Zoo’s oldest giraffe died Thursday at 23, officials said.

Daisy, a Como resident for two decades and the matriarch of the zoo’s giraffe herd, had long suffered from degenerative arthritis, and veterinary staffers made the decision to euthanize her “after exhaustive discussions,” according to a news release issued by Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

Daisy came to Como as a 3-year-old in 2002 from the San Diego Wild Animal Park as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan Program, which facilitates transfers of breeding animals among accredited facilities to support population and biodiversity objectives, its website says.

Daisy gave birth to eight calves over the course of her life, many of which now live at AZA-accredited zoos across the country, the Como news release said.

“Daisy was a strong, beautiful matriarch — quick to judge and slow to accept her human coworkers” Senior Zookeeper Jill Erzar said in the release. “She was a fierce and protective mother who would do anything to keep her calves safe. She was an extraordinary ambassador for giraffe, helping us connect visitors to her wild counterparts by telling her story.”

Como’s giraffe herd now consists of a female named Clover and a male named Skeeter.

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