Patna: A 21-year-old giraffe named Shanti has died at Patna’s Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, with zoo authorities saying preliminary findings point to complications during pregnancy. Samples have been sent to specialist laboratories to establish the exact cause of death.
Shanti, a female giraffe brought to Patna in 2006 from the San Diego Zoo in the United States under a wildlife exchange programme, was one of the zoo’s most significant animals. Officials said she had been under observation before her death, and a review of her medical and care records is under way.
Over more than a decade at the zoo, Shanti played a key role in conservation breeding efforts. She gave birth to her first calf, Navya, in 2011, and went on to have six calves between 2011 and 2023. As part of a coordinated breeding programme, her offspring were transferred to zoos in Nandankanan (Bhubaneswar), Guwahati and Mysore. Two of her calves, Aman and Nandini, remain at the Patna facility.
Zoo staff described a sombre atmosphere following her death, noting that Shanti was a major attraction for visitors and an important contributor to the giraffe population in Indian zoos.
Separately, the zoo has stepped up preventive measures amid heightened concerns over avian influenza. Officials said there is no indication that Shanti’s death was linked to bird flu, but added that additional precautions were being taken to minimise any potential risk.
As part of these measures, the zoo has temporarily stopped feeding chicken to carnivorous animals. Around 50kg of chicken was previously supplied daily, but this has been replaced with guinea pigs sourced from Lucknow. Authorities said the change was precautionary and aimed at reducing the possibility of disease transmission.
Sanitisation efforts across the zoo have also been intensified. Lime and chemical disinfectants are being used regularly, with bird enclosures, entry gates and vehicle tyres among the areas being cleaned and monitored. The zoo administration said ensuring the health and safety of its animals remained its top priority while investigations into Shanti’s death continue.
