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Young giraffe dies at Missouri zoo during medical procedure

Pammy J (Photo courtesy Dickerson Park Zoo)
Pammy J
(Photo courtesy Dickerson Park Zoo)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — The oldest of five juvenile giraffes at a Missouri zoo has died during a routine medical procedure.

The Springfield News-Leader reports the giraffe, named Pammy J, was born in September 2012 and had developed an overgrown hoof due to a previous injury.

Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield says in a news release staff deemed it necessary to trim the hoof. On Wednesday, Pammy J collapsed after a light dose of anesthesia and zoo staffers were unable to revive her.

A necropsy has been performed and blood and tissue samples were sent for analysis to determine whether any underlying medical conditions contributed to the animal’s death.

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