Fortunata, a giraffe who became one of the star attractions at the Chapultepec Wildlife Conservation Center in Mexico City, has died at the remarkable age of 36 years and five months. Chapultepec is Mexico City’s sprawling central park, often compared to New York’s Central Park, and its zoo is one of the oldest and most visited in Latin America.
Officials from Mexico City’s Ministry of the Environment (Sedema) announced her death and praised her unusually long life as proof of the high standard of veterinary and animal care at the facility. Giraffes typically live between 20 and 25 years in zoos, and often less in the wild, making Fortunata’s lifespan an exceptional case among captive giraffes worldwide.
Over the decades, Fortunata became a familiar and much-loved figure for generations of visitors, many of whom grew up watching her at the park. Her death marks the end of an era for the zoo, which has long used her story as an example of successful long-term animal husbandry.
Authorities did not specify the cause of death or provide immediate details about a possible replacement or tribute planned for her. Sedema reiterated its commitment to wildlife conservation and animal welfare programs at the center.
To read the full report from Reforma, follow the link to the original article.
Source: Murió 'Fortunata', la jirafa más longeva de Chapultepec (Reforma).
Image: Karen Roe, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).