The National Zoological Gardens Department says its elderly female giraffe at the Dehiwala Zoo died on August 18 at nearly 30 years of age.
Zoo officials said no specific illness had been reported before her death, and preliminary observations suggest it may have been due to natural age-related causes. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for August 19.
The department said giraffes generally live around 20–25 years in the wild, although they can live longer under managed zoo care.
Meanwhile, two new pairs of giraffes are expected to be brought to Sri Lanka before the end of 2026 under the National Zoological Gardens Department’s animal exchange programme. (Newswire)