15-year Houstonian
Beloved Houston Zoo giraffe euthanized: Groundbreaking medical procedure unableto save Kiva
Kiva was a much-loved Houston Zoo resident.Photo by Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo
Kiva, left, enjoying bamboo with other members of his herdPhoto by Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo
We'll miss you, Kiva.Photo by Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo
Kiva — a beloved Masai giraffe who lived at the Houston Zoo for 15 years — was euthanized early Thursday morning after a groundbreaking procedure was unable to restore his quality of life.
A father of 10, Kiva loved to interact with people, often times proving to be a real ham.
"It didn’t matter if you were a guest or a Zoo employee, Kiva was everyone’s friend,” Houston Zoo director Rick Barongi said in a statement. “His captivating personality won over everyone he met. There is hardly anyone at the Zoo who does not treasure fond memories of interacting with Kiva, an experience that usually included feeding him."
Kiva's happy life was largely taken away by degenerative arthritis involving his front hoof joints, a condition that made it hard for him to even put weight on his front right leg. Mark Haugland, a veterinary orthopedic surgeon from Conroe, led a determined effort to save Kiva.
The giraffe went through an operation last year that fused his left front hoof joint and put a block on his left foot to take the considerable extra weight that would be needed for Kiva to walk regularly.
“The block created a shoe for Kiva," Houston Zoo hoofed stock supervisor John Register said in a statement. "It’s a process that has been done with horses and cows but, as far as we know not previously with a giraffe."
The procedure seemed to work at first, but the block only lasted six weeks and after a similar operation on Kiva's right foot didn't reduce his pain, the Zoo officials made the decision to euthanize.
“Follow up x-rays indicated his condition was not improving," Reigster said. "He was in pain and he could not put weight on his front right leg. It was clear to the giraffe care team and his veterinarians that his quality of life was very poor with no prospect for improvement."
