9-year-old female giraffe dies after tragic accident at NC Zoo

ASHEBORO, N.C. — Officials at the North Carolina Zoo found one of its female giraffes dead inside its habitat after a tragic accident.

Zoo officials discovered 9-year-old Jamili dead after she accidentally became entangled in a physical engagement item used with the giraffe herd.

Officials said the enrichment item has been used for many years with the herd without incident.

Jamili, a reticulated giraffe, was born May 30, 2008, at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She was transferred to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro in March 2009.

Keepers said they were immediately taken by Jamili’s easygoing personality.

Jamili gave birth to one female calf, Juma, in July 2012. Juma is now at the Maryland Zoo and last month had a female calf of her own.

The world is still waiting on April the Giraffe to give birth at Animal Adventure Park in New York.

Like WSOC-TV on Facebook for live video of April the Giraffe.

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• 9-year-old female giraffe dies after tragic accident at NC Zoo

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