
Burreaux courtesy of Baton Rouge Zoo
The Baton Rouge Zoo released sad news Wednesday about the passing of 20-month-old giraffe Burreaux. The young giraffe, named after Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, was born December 26 in 2019, the same year the LSU Tigers went undefeated. Zoo Director Phil Frost said Burreaux died early Wednesday morning after a sudden onset of a severe cough and agitation Tuesday.
“The zoo’s entire team adored Burreaux and is undergoing their own level of sadness over this sudden and unexpected loss,” said Frost.
Zoo veterinarian Dr. Michael Warshaw said the plan was to observe the young giraffe overnight and schedule an immobilization Wednesday morning with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. But early Wednesday things took a turn.
“It’s all speculation of what would have come first, I assume that the cough comes with the unknown for the giraffe which makes him therefore agitated,” said Warshaw.
As for a cause of death, a necropsy was performed by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and the zoo’s medical staff. Results should be available in 30 days. Warshaw said at this time they don’t want to surmise that the young giraffe had COVID.
“At this time any speculation is just that speculation, I like to speak on facts in these sorts of situations. As far as we’re aware at this point in the scientific community, giraffes are not a COVID suspectable species,” said Warshaw.
The Baton Rouge Zoo has a long history of giraffe births, Burreaux was the twentieth and his young sister was born at the zoo a week ago.
Comments