Zoo's deep sadness at death of 19-year-old giraffe

Makeda was born at Marwell Zoo, near Winchester in 2005

A zoo has spoken of its "deep sadness" following the death of one of its giraffes.

Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, said Makeda did not recover from an anaesthetic on Wednesday during treatment for serious dental disease.

The 19-year-old giraffe had been under treatment by the zoo's veterinary team but after medication stopped working the condition could not be left.

The zoo said Makeda, an inquisitive character, who was born at the zoo in 2005 would be "greatly missed by us all".

Vets at the zoo had been treating the giraffe for dental disease for a number of months

A Marwell spokeswoman said: "Sadly, anaesthetising animals always carries a risk and is particularly difficult with giraffes due to their size.

"The procedure was a very challenging one and the zoo's Veterinary and Hoofstock teams had anaesthetised Makeda to carry out the dental treatment, which went well.

"However, sadly she did not recover from the anaesthetic despite the very best efforts of the zoo teams."