Home › News › State
Beloved crooked-necked giraffe dies
Demise consistent with old age, Santa Barbara Zoo official says
Ian Vorster / Santa Barbara Zoo Gemina, the crooked-necked giraffe, enjoys a treat for her 21st birthday bash July 16, 2007. A zoo favorite, Gemina was euthanized Thursday because of poor health.
STORY TOOLS 
More from StateSANTA BARBARA (AP)— Gemina, a giraffe with a distinctive crooked neck and one of the most beloved animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo, has died. She was 21.
The zoo euthanized the animal Wednesday, it was announced Thursday.
"We observed a decline in her appetite over the past two weeks and she had stopped eating all together," said Alan Varsik, the zoo's director of animal programs and conservation.
"Her declining condition appeared to affect her quality of life. We did everything we could but the time came when we had to make the humane decision," he said in a statement.
Her illness was not believed related to her neck condition, although results of a necropsy will not be available for several weeks, the zoo said.
"Her demise is consistent with the challenges of old age," Varsik said.
"Though a few giraffes in captivity have been known to live into their late-twenties, reaching age 21 is considered an achievement," zoo CEO and Director Rich Block said. "She was a great animal ambassador, showing that differences can be accepted and even celebrated. She will be missed."
The giraffe was born July 16, 1986, at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and was brought to Santa Barbara when she was about a year old.
She was around 3 when she began to develop a crooked neck that eventually bent sharply and made it appear that she had swallowed a hockey stick.
Although her neck was X-rayed, the cause of the condition was never conclusively found.
It did not affect her eating and she was treated normally by other giraffes, the zoo said.
Gemina had one offspring that died some years ago.
Posted by mswallred on January 11, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gemina was always a favorite at the zoo. My family enjoyed petting her during the feed events the zoo offered there. Gemina will be greatly missed.
Posted by sunnbear on January 11, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so sad. My daughters will be crushed! Gemina was the coolest giraffe ever!
Posted by daze805 on January 11, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember this giraffe from when I was younger... sad.
Posted by BeaHappi on January 11, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh how sad! Gemina, you will be missed! I was lucky enough to see her just before the holidays. RIP Gemina!
Posted by garion246 on January 11, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd been meaning to go to the SB Zoo mostly beacuse I was curious of how well this giraff was doing. This is too bad.
Posted by ethier16 on January 11, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT VISITING GEMINA.. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HER LAST WEEK, MY KIDS WILL BE VERY SAD SHE WAS OUR FAVORITE!!!!
Posted by CALA on January 11, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad, I grew up with Germina. We always made sure we visited her when at the zoo. She will be missed.
Posted by res0crek on January 11, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rest in Peace Gemina. You will be missed!
Posted by kristenlabonte on January 11, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm so sad to hear this. My heart goes out to the zookeepers and all of Gemina's fans.
Posted by patgeo on January 11, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I took some photos of Gemina in November 2006. She was quite striking. You can see one of the photos I took here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia...
Posted by RelaxPeople on January 11, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i loved this giraffe, a part of my childhood. was at the zoo a week ago and wondered why i dint see her.
Posted by Ms_California on January 11, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Awhhhh, this is really sad. She was very strange to look at but you couldn't help visiting her everytime you were at the zoo. She was def my favorite there. Sad to see you go Germina!
Posted by Cat on January 11, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Awwww....we were just at the zoo on New Year's day and I was wondering where she was when I didn't see her out with the rest of the giraffes. RIP.....we'll miss you........
Posted by freewalk9 on January 11, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My husband and I must be kids at heart because we vist the zoo nearly every Sunday ESPECIALLY to feed the giraffes. I was so sad to learn of Gemina's death; she was a very brave creature. I hope everyone who saw Gemina honors her memory by being kind and friendly to those who may seem different or a little awkward.
Goodbye Gemina!
Posted by mswallred on January 11, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very nice post freewalk9!
Posted by divajen24 on January 11, 2008 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad news - she was a wonderful creature and we always enjoyed seeing her.
Posted by NENALATINA805 on January 11, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SO SAD!!!
Posted by krzyleo4u on January 12, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you'll be missed so much gemina!!!I hoped to have my wedding at SB zoo just to have gemina around us.
Posted by THX1138 on January 12, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
->Patgeo: thanks for sharing..
"she was treated normally by other giraffes" I guess this proves that giraffes aren't superficial like humans.. ;)
Her ripe old age was probably as a result of living in a controlled environment - Kudos to the SB Zoo.
RIP Gemina
Posted by Ambz on January 12, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am very sad to hear, but hey, she had such a long life for a giraffe. She has been my favorite animal ever to go see at ANY zoo since I was really young.
Posted by Vhoytec on January 12, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gemina loved all of us.
Posted by lisadba on January 13, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So sad! I live in another state now, and I remember Gemina from when I grew up in California and seeing her all the time at the zoo. She is a wonderful memory that will be missed.
Posted by jill on January 13, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad that she had to live her entire life in the confines of a zoo. Zoos are no place for animals, normal or deformed.
Posted by patsyrabago on January 13, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That is so sad.
Posted by ebrockway on January 14, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anybody remember a Mister Rogers story about a crooked-necked giraffe years ago? When I was little (47 now) I had an LP with that story, and then when I took my kids to that zoo I was amazed to see the animal I remembered from when I was little! Turns out of course it couldn't have been, since it hadn't been born then lol. But for a minute I was blown away.
She was always our favorite, and the zoo will always seem kinda empty now.
Posted by ironwoman on January 15, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad I have pictures of Gemina. My son is 4 and everytime we go to the zoo, we make sure that he was able to see Gemina. She always had a look in her eyes that she knew we were looking at her. I will miss her deeply.
Posted by EthicalPerson on January 17, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad! I enjoyed going to the zoo and seeing her.
Posted by britney on January 17, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HOw sad, i remember seeing her when we would take trips to the zoo as a lil girl.
Posted by labsnabys on January 21, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She lived a good long life despite her deformity, but she will be missed by us all. She was definitely a favorite stop on our zoo visits. Our thoughts are with the zoo staff and all of Gemina's "family".
Posted by lhernandez on January 23, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good bye Gemina RIP.
Posted by sauce805 on January 24, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so so sad. Gemina WiLL be missed deeply...may she rest in peaCe<3
Posted by becky_corralejo on January 26, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I cried reading this story. I truly loved that unique giraffe. Just the look in her eyes was so gentle and full of love. I feel for her fellow giraffes, the people who cared for her for 21 yrs and of course her fans. RIP Gemina, you are a wonderful role model!!
Posted by SummerSun on January 30, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a sweet kind creature. You can see the soul and love in her eyes. Gemina will surely be missed by those who loved her.
Posted by calgirlinky on February 4, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I too now live out of state but remember this giraffe fondly. I was hoping to get back to the area so that my boys could visit her. This is just so sad. You'll be greatly missed!
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
- Posts that degrade others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
- Disparaging remarks, abusive language or obscene comments.
- Threats, whether obvious or veiled.
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
There are 34 comments to this article.
Comments are found beneath the Yahoo! ad below.