A moment of silence for Elliot the giraffe who died in his crate.

[Baitball Blogger]

'Freak accident' kills Florida giraffe: USDA blames barn flaw at ZooWorld

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A federal inspector's report says the barn that contained a ZooWorld giraffe contributed to the animal's death in April.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture report said Elliot, a 5-month-old giraffe, got stuck in an open space between "a horizontal slat just above the door on the right side of a barn."

After getting stuck, Elliot struggled to get loose and sustained injuries to his spinal cord. He was euthanized after treatment for his injuries failed.

snip

No one noted the opening between the slats or mentioned that it could be a problem, he said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-freak-accident-giraffe-killed-20130531,0,406828.story

[NYC_SKP]

1. If this animal was left unattended for more than 30 minutes in such a shitty box, well.

Scratch that, it shouldn't have been in a shitty box in the first place.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

2. I wish they would outlaw zoos and circuses.

We have no right to imprison these beautiful animals.

[hamsterjill]

6. I agree!

The thinking about these institutions needs to be revisited. I won't support either.

[magical thyme]

3. nothing in the article says he was crated.

He was in a barn, most likely in a stall within a barn. Inspectors failed to note the space between 2 slats over the door, or failed to note that it was large enough to slip a head through. It's possible he could slip it through sideways and then turned his head upright.

As far as his being attended versus unattended, nothing in the article answers that. I can say that somebody could have been right there and it could have happened so quickly that nobody could have stopped it once it started. I've seen sensitive, reactive-type horses do unexpected things in supposedly safe environments and then hurt themselves, sometimes beyond repair, in the ensuing panic. A wild animal would be even more prone such panics and subsequent injuries.

That said, I am no fan of zoos. Animals should be left alone in the wild. However, as sad as Elliot's death is, there is nothing that says that he would have survived in the wild either. For most, life in the wild tends to be short and death brutish.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Thank you for the corrections, and well thought out post.

[Kali]

7. good points all around, I agree

I also have no general problem with zoos or captivity if animals are healthy and seem sane/"happy"

[In_The_Wind]

4. .