A baby giraffe has died at the Seneca Park Zoo after reportedly having a seizure on Saturday.
According to the Rochester Zoo, after Parker Junior, known as PJ, showed signs of being lame in the rear right leg and after consulting with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan Veterinary Advisors it was agreed the issue was likely tendonitis or a possible nerve issue. The Zoo reports Animal Care and Animal Health teams monitored PJ’s daily activity levels, clinical signs, appetite, and behavior.
WROC TV reports that after PJ’s death on Saturday, Veterinarians from the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine performed a necropsy. The results show PJ died from encephalitis and infection of the tissues around the brain. It was also shown that the infection was also affecting multiple tissues including the liver, and umbilical region. Although encephalitis can be viral, it is believed that the infection is bacterial which makes it non-contagious.
