A giraffe calf at Taipei Zoo has died of malnutrition after refusing to feed, zoo officials said on Monday.
Hsiao He (小鶴) died early on Sunday in the company of keepers and veterinarians at the zoo, who over the past two months had been taking care of the animal around the clock.
Keepers had been struggling to feed the giraffe since its birth on March 12, when it weighed 59kg.
As the animal failed to feed on its mother’s milk, keepers attempted to feed it cow’s colostrum instead, only to discover that it showed barely any interest in eating.
Keepers often had to try for hours before they could get Hsiao He to open its mouth and drink even just a little bit of the milk, they said.
Difficulty feeding the animal continued after the calf’s rumen developed, which requires different foods, such as leaves or grass.
However, Hsiao He was just as disinterested in the new food as before and eventually became malnourished.
Keepers and veterinarians sought help from researchers at local universities, including National Taiwan University, as well as advice from overseas, such as from the San Diego Zoo, on nutrition and treatment for the animal.
However, their efforts were unsuccessful and the animal died on Sunday.
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