Baby giraffe dies at Dallas Zoo in accident

Kipenzi, a baby giraffe that captivated an Internet audience with its live birth at the Dallas Zoo a few months ago, has died.

Kipenzi the baby giraffe is unveiled for the public at the Giants of the Savannah exhibit at the Dallas Zoo May 1, 2015. Preliminary results indicate three broken vertebrae in her neck, and that she died immediately.

Her birth on April 10 was live-streamed on “Giraffe Birth Live” on Animal Planet’s website and it drew more than two million viewers.

The zoo encouraged those interested in donating in Kipenzi’s memory, to consider The Giraffe Conservation Foundation, their partner in protecting giraffes in Africa.

“Young animals are lanky and gangly and uncoordinated – just like young people are”, Harrison Edell, the zoo’s senior director of living collections, told The Dallas Morning News.

The calf was scampering around the giraffe habitat Tuesday evening when she ran into the perimeter and broke her neck.

Zoo officials said Kipenzi’s mother, Katie, was allowed to visit her calf before veterinarians and keepers removed her.

“We are devastated to share the tragic loss of our beloved giraffe calf, Kipenzi”, the zoo statement read. “It’s heartbreaking that this happened where it did despite our precautions”.

‘To be honest, it hurts terribly.

‘Please keep our staff in your thoughts.’.

The zoo then held a popular weeks-long naming contest that settled on Kipenzi, which translates to “loved one” in Swahili.

The zoo is encouraging guests to post photos of Kipenzi and messages of support for the staff on its Facebook and Instagram pages.