The Giraffe's Death

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 5402, 15 April 1909, Page 4

The Giraffe's Death

Monkey Exonerated A careful examination liiih been made of the carcase of Wirth Bros.’ giraffe by a well-known veterinary surgeon, who states that the animal died of acute pneumonia, followed by heart failure, due to a growth on the valves of the heart, which no doubt assisted materially in ending the creature’s short career in Australia. The body is to be preserved and stuffed, and placed on show at the Wirths’ menagerie.

Under the circumstances, the suspicion that the giraffe was killed by one of the monkeys is now dispelled. Some months ago the. Polar bear, which was a great favourite with the monkeys, died mysteriously, and from that date the hostility of the monkeyß towards the giraffe showed plainly that they regardod him as having been connected with the offenco. Further, a monkey was seen in the vicinity of the giraffe’s cage just before the discovery of the body. The circumstantial evidence was strong, and it is therefore satisfactory to learn that death was duo to natural causes. Freed from the stigma that attached to it, the monkey cage is now itself again.