Wildlife Park Confirms Death of Two Giraffes in 'Billion to One' Tragedy
Sometimes, tragedy is avoidable. Other times, disasters are unexpected and absolutely impossible to predict.
Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida, was the site of an extremely rare and fatal accident on May 3, 2019. Zookeepers at the wildlife park could never have anticipated the tragedy.
Two of the park’s giraffes, Lily and Jioni, were in a pasture when a thunderstorm quickly formed overhead. The two giraffes, who were not related, were later discovered dead in the pasture.
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After doctors examined the giraffes, it was confirmed that they had both been struck by lightning.
According to medical reports, the giraffes died instantly, without prolonged suffering. Doctors could not determine whether a single strike hit both animals, or whether they were killed by two separate strikes. No employees had been nearby to witness the tragedy occur.
“Recent pathology results confirm that the giraffe did pass as a result of the lightning and that the manner of their passing was instantaneous,” Lion Country Safari said in a statement on Facebook.
“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.”
The odds of such a tragedy occurring are incredibly unlikely. Still, the park is working to better understand the situation and how this type of disaster could be prevented in the future.
“It’s like a billion-to-one chance this happened to us and our poor giraffes, but we are looking at anything we can to improve upon,” Haley Passeser, the park’s spokesperson, told NBC News.
Lion Country Safari also stated that the giraffes do have access to multiple shelters in the pasture. However, the animals prefer to remain outside, and officials at the park never force the animals into enclosures.
The park is not necessarily a “zoo,” but rather an amusement park and multi-acre safari visitors can drive through.
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Giraffes typically live between 20 to 25 years. Lily was 10 years old when the storm hit, and Jioni was only one.
“It was absolutely heart-wrenching,” Brian Dowling, the park’s Wildlife Director, told WPEC. “There were so many tears around here. Everyone was absolutely devastated by it.”
Lion Country Safari fans and employees alike were shocked and heartbroken when they learned that Lily and Jioni hadn’t survived the storm. The two giraffes are remembered as friendly and “charismatic” animals that bonded well with the zookeepers.
“We continue to mourn our two incredibly lovely and charismatic giraffe; they will both be sorely missed,” Lion Country Safari stated on Facebook.
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