SEATTLE - Over the weekend, Woodland Park Zoo celebrated the birth of a male reticulated giraffe. Yesterday, however, the calf showed signs of weakness and deterioration. In response, zoo officials rushed a supply of giraffe plasma flown in from Los Angeles Zoo and transferred the calf to the zoo's animal health hospital for intensive care. Despite round-the-clock efforts by zookeepers and veterinary staff to save the newborn, the 5 1/2-foot tall animal died early this morning.

To ensure their health and well being, all newborn animals at the zoo are kept under close observation. The baby giraffe was kept inside the giraffe barn off public view. Since the giraffe's birth this past Saturday, "We were concerned because the mother's milk production was slow to come in," explained zoo Senior Veterinarian Dr. Janis Joslin, "and the calf was not receiving protective maternal antibodies, which is critical within the first 24 hours of birth. Without these antibodies, newborns are susceptible to systemic infections," added Joslin.

The calf marked the first of its species born at the zoo in four years and the first offspring to 12-year-old mother, Mahali (muh-HAW-lee), and 5-year-old Johari (joe-HAW-ree). Other members of the giraffe herd are 19-year-old Sukari, a female; and 4-year-old Hodari, a male and another offspring of Mahali.