Makope, Phoenix Zoo’s beloved giraffe, dead at 14

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By Bob D'Angelo

PHOENIX — Makope, the beloved reticulated giraffe at the Phoenix Zoo, died Thursday, zoo officials announced Sunday in a Facebook post. She was 14.

“It is with deep sadness that we inform everyone that Makope, one of our reticulated giraffe, passed away Thursday,” zoo officials wrote on Facebook.

Zoo officials said Makope had been under close observation and underwent medical treatment over the past few months because she was having difficulty navigating her surroundings, the Arizona Republic reported.

Despite some improvement by the giraffe, zoo officials said she had declined in health and was experiencing neurological issues when she died, the newspaper reported.

“Makope has been a bright spot in our giraffe herd from the moment of her birth on the Savanna exhibit 14.5 years ago. She was by far our most mischievous and outgoing giraffe,” zoo officials said on Facebook.

Makope was born at the Phoenix Zoo, according to the Republic. Her name is Swahili and means “eyelashes,” according to zoo officials.

Makope, Phoenix Zoo’s beloved giraffe, dead at 14 Makope was a fixture at the Phoenix Zoo for 14 years. The giraffe died Thursday, zoo officials said. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)