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Animals in the news
Zoo animals drown in freak accident
From correspondents in Monroe, Louisiana
July 05, 2004
A GIRAFFE and an ostrich drowned in a 4.5-metre sinkhole that
developed after a water main burst in their shared US zoo exhibit,
officials said today.
The animals at Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in northern
Louisiana died sometime over the weekend in the zoo's African veldt
exhibit.
Zoo officials buried them there after discovering the bodies.
"I just hate it, but it was a freak accident," said zoo veterinarian
Tyler Thomas.
The six-year-old Rothschild giraffe, on loan from Seneca Park Zoo in
Rochester, New York, was one of two male giraffes on exhibit for the
past 19 months.
The ostrich was one of four females at the zoo for the past four
years.
Mr Thomas said he believed the five-metre, 1350-kg giraffe was
probably getting a drink and tumbled head-first into the sinkhole
when it collapsed under his weight.
The ostrich was probably standing beside the giraffe, he said.
"Nothing but the ankles of the giraffe were visible when I went out
there," Mr Thomas said.
"I'm sure he smelled that fresh, cool water bubbling up and couldn't
resist it. We're just fortunate none of the other animals got
curious."
Source: Newspaper. The Australian, July 05, 2004.
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