Gretchen, age 22, spent her last day of life at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore atop the grassy hill where she had long endeared herself to thousands of families and children, grazing pleasantly with a herd of four other giraffes.
Staff members came to see her throughout the day Friday, offering tearful goodbyes to a sweet, inquisitive animal many had come to call "The Lady of the House."
Her long day outside was a rare one in recent weeks, zoo officials said, as her lifelong problems with arthritis gradually increased her suffering so much that they decided to end her life. Gretchen was euthanized yesterday about 9 a.m.
"This is a big loss for the Maryland Zoo and our community," said Don Hutchinson, president and chief executive of the Maryland Zoo, in a written statement. "Gretchen will be missed by all of us."
Animal keepers and veterinarians made the decision to euthanize her, having met occasionally this year to discuss Gretchen's condition, and all agreed that it was the most humane step, said Rebecca Gullott, the mammal collection and conservation manager, and Dr. Ellen Bronson, the zoo's senior veterinarian.
"We felt, up until very recently, that she was comfortable, that things were going fine," Bronson said. "It's a very progressive disease. For many years, she probably had no discomfort, ever. And then we saw occasional signs of discomfort where she had maybe a bad day. And recently, we saw she was getting more uncomfortable, and we especially saw it when the weather was bad. ... When the weather was rainy, like this past week, you could tell that she had more trouble moving."
Gullott said the signs were subtle but widely noticed. Gretchen's steps would be smaller and she moved more slowly. A petite giraffe at 14 feet tall and 1,400 pounds, her posture weakened and she shifted her weight while standing. Gretchen was still able to get up, but was less willing to leave the barn and had not been as active. She still ate plenty, they said, but that is often not the best indicator of physical problems.
Because animals such as giraffes are often preyed upon in the wild, they are biologically programmed to hide pain lest they be singled out by a lion, a fact that can complicate efforts to spot discomfort.
The procedure to end her life took about 30 minutes. Gretchen slowly and peacefully drifted into sleep with the help of a powerful anesthetic. The drugs used are the same ones employed for dogs and cats, although at a much higher dose.
