Hildy was born at the Dallas Zoo on Oct. 9, 1973, and had lived there all her life. The beloved 14-foot-tall, reticulated giraffe had enjoyed a lifetime of good health, although zoo officials had installed rubber mats in her barn to help with her arthritis.
The 33-year-old giraffe has had six children, 39 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great grandchildren and 3 great-great-great grandchildren. Her 19-year-old daughter, Kibo, had been her constant companion.
She will be missed by zoo workers and the countless thousands of people who came to know Hildy and visited her over the past three decades.
Hildy was born at the Dallas Zoo on Oct. 9, 1973, and had lived there all her life. The beloved 14-foot-tall, reticulated giraffe had enjoyed a lifetime of good health, although zoo officials had installed rubber mats in her barn to help with her arthritis.
The 33-year-old giraffe has had six children, 39 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great grandchildren and 3 great-great-great grandchildren. Her 19-year-old daughter, Kibo, had been her constant companion.
She will be missed by zoo workers and the countless thousands of people who came to know Hildy and visited her over the past three decades.