Giraffe dies in Chinese zoo after getting stuck between tree branches

KUNMING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A giraffe in a zoo in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, died after getting its neck trapped between tree branches, local authorities said.

The tragedy happened Monday afternoon when the male giraffe, Hairong, was playing outside at Kunming Zoo while trying to scratch an itch on the tree, the zoo said.

Wang Ang, veterinarian of the zoo, said that zoo workers immediately rushed to the site, where they found the giraffe had gotten stuck in a gap between branches.

Wang said that they sawed the branches off. When Hairong was rescued, the giraffe collapsed on the ground and couldn't move its limbs, a sign of stress. The giraffe later died of heart and lung complications.

Among the four giraffes in the zoo, 10-year-old Hairong was the tallest. The animal had been living at the zoo for five years and often used the tree to scratch itself.

The zoo will check all animal habitats to prevent such tragedies from happening again, Wang said. Enditem