Pair of giraffes killed in 'billion-to-one' lightning strike at Florida safari park

Giraffe
Two giraffes were killed when they were hit by lightning (Picture: Facebook/Lion County Safari)

A safari park in Florida is mourning the death of two giraffes who were killed in a freak lightning strike.

Park bosses said the pair, who aren’t believed to be related, would have died instantly in the “billion-to-one” incident which happened last month.

Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee said the “incredibly lovely and charismatic giraffe” - ten-year-old female Lily and one-year-old male Jioni - were in the pasture in their habitat when the storm developed on May 3.

The park said it had waited to share the news about their death out of respect for the keepers and staff and to wait for pathology results on the animals’ death.

Giraffe
Giraffe

The statement said: “Lily and Jioni were in the pasture in their habitat when a severe thunderstorm quickly developed 6 weeks ago.

“Recent pathology results confirm that the giraffe did pass as a result of the lightning and that the manner of their passing was instantaneous.

“The giraffe do have access to numerous shelters in the multi-acre habitat, if they choose to use them.

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“The keepers and our whole team were understandably devastated by this sudden and tragic loss; out of respect for their mourning and the pending pathology results, we waited to share this information.

“We continue to mourn our two incredibly lovely and charismatic giraffe; they will both be sorely missed.”

A spokeswoman for the park, which describes itself as an amusement park and drive-thru safari, said it was a “billion-to-one chance” that something like this could happen.