Toronto Zoo is mourning the loss of Kiko, a 13-year-old male Masai giraffe who died in what the zoo is calling a tragic accident.
In a statement Friday, the zoo said Kiko gained access to an additional area of his behind-the-scenes habitat on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 1.
The zoo said that giraffeknown for his curiosity, began exploring the space and got stuck in an opening door, leading to a “very tragic and unfortunate incident.”
Masai giraffes have relatively delicate heads supported by a six-foot neck “capable of moving forward, backward, up, down and side to side, allowing rapid changes in head position,” the zoo said.
Despite the staff's immediate response, Kiko panicked and suffered injuries that, due to the species' unique anatomy, proved fatal.
The zoo said the loss is particularly difficult for Kiko's wildlife care team, noting that moving giraffes from one location to another is a routine practice that has been done “thousands of times without incident.”
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The zoo said staff have been providing Kiko with specialized behind-the-scenes care for hoof and foot injuries in recent months, adapting his environment and daily routine to support his recovery.
Kiko's body has been sent to the University of Guelph for a full post-mortem examination.
The zoo said its health and safety team has launched a thorough investigation and that the results will be released once the process is complete.
The Maasai giraffe is listed as critically endangered and its global population has declined to just over 43,000.
The species was classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2018 after a nearly 50 percent population decline over three decades.
Kiko was born in 2012 at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina and later came to the Toronto Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Maasai Giraffe Species Survival Plan.
The zoo said Kiko gave birth to two cubs, with a third expected in early 2026.
Staff are currently focused on supporting the giraffe care team and the pregnant female giraffe Mstari.
“While we mourn this significant loss, we are focused on supporting our team as well as Mstari as she is in the advanced stages of her pregnancy,” the zoo said.
“We ask that you remember our staff and volunteers during this incredibly difficult time and join us in remembering and honoring Kiko, the magnificent giraffe who touched so many hearts.”
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