Lincoln Park Zoo’s 24-year-old giraffe Etana dies

Etana the giraffe had lived at the Lincoln Park Zoo since 2003. She died Thursday. (Lincoln Park Zoo)

A 24-year-old giraffe at the Lincoln Park Zoo died Thursday.

The giraffe, named Etana, had been monitored extensively by veterinary staff for cumulative age-related issues since 2017, according to a statement from the zoo on Friday.

Etana had reached an acute change in her health and passed away quickly overnight, according to the zoo.

She had arrived at the Lincoln Park Zoo from another institution in 2003. She went on to surpass the median life expectancy of female giraffes, which is about 20, the zoo said.

“Etana was a very special animal to us here at the zoo and to many zoo visitors and volunteers,” said Mike Murray, the zoo’s curator of mammals and behavioral husbandry, who called her “the leader of the giraffe herd.”