Beloved crooked-neck giraffe dies at SB Zoo

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Gemina the giraffe, known for her rare crooked neck that made her one of the most beloved animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo, was euthanized Wednesday after 21-years of residency there.
Zoo officials said Gemina’s health had steadily declined over the past two weeks as the animal’s appetite waned. The decision to euthanize her was made after Gemina quit eating altogether, said Alan Varsik, the zoo’s director of animal programs and conservation.


“The welfare of our animals is the No. 1 concern here at the Santa Barbara Zoo and her declining condition appeared to affect her quality of life,” Varsik said. “We did everything we could but the time came when we had to make the humane decision.”
He said Gemina was off exhibit in the giraffe barn when she died.
Varsik said initial results of a necropsy performed on Gemina have not linked the giraffe’s illness and subsequent death to her crooked neck.
Dean Noble, director of marketing for the zoo, said the age of 21 is a “healthy old age” for a giraffe. He said the oldest animal alive at the zoo is a 45-year-old alligator, though some exotic bird species live well into there 90s.
Due to Gemina’s crooked neck condition, which developed over time, Varsik said she was closely observed through the years but lived a normal life.
“Throughout Gemina’s entire life we’ve always kept her under close observation to see if there’s been any complications with her neck,” Varsik said. “She’s behaved just like any member of the herd.”
Noble said Gemina was regularly X-rayed over the years to attempt to see if her neck condition was a threat to her health, but the results showed only bone mass.
Varsik said Gemina’s condition was extremely rare. Through extensive research conducted by the zoo, he said the only other crooked neck giraffe recorded in history was at the London Zoo in 1902. The only other mention of a crooked neck giraffe he has heard of came from a visitor to the zoo who told him a crooked neck giraffe existed somewhere in the wild. Varsik said could not find any documentation to support the claim.
Born at the San Diego Zoo on July 16, 1986, Varsik said Gemina was transported to Santa Barbara shortly thereafter. He said Gemina gave birth once, but the offspring died at the age of five while residing at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Varsik said the zoo rarely memorializes a deceased animal, but in Gemina’s case has made an exception. He said video footage of her 21st birthday is streaming on the zoo’s website. Varsik said there is also a comment box on the web site where Gemina fans that would like to tell their favorite Gemina story can do so.
Gemina’s presence at the zoo went above and beyond mere anomaly.
“She was a great animal ambassador, showing that differences can be accepted and even celebrated,” said Rich Block, CEO and director of the zoo. “She will be missed.”
Gemina was featured in the television show “Miracle Workers” in 2005, where she was the source of inspiration for a young boy with severe scoliosis, a statement from the zoo says. In 2007, the statement said residents on a local radio station poll voted her first place in a list of “seven wonders of Santa Barbara”.
Without Gemina, the zoo’s giraffe herd stands at three and Varsik said there are no plans to expand that number at this time.
“Among the most asked questions we have here at the zoo is ‘what’s wrong with her neck,’” Varsik said. “We’ve told the story of Gemina many, many times to our visitors. People are going to be asking about her for years to come, wanting to know what happened to the Gemina, the Crooked Neck Giraffe.”