Fresno Chaffee Zoo says goodbye to longtime giraffe, community mourns
Fresno Chaffee Zoo announced the death of Baba, a 31 year old reticulated giraffe who had lived at the park for 30 years. Her humane euthanasia due to advancing age related arthritis matters to residents because Baba was both a conservation ambassador and a familiar presence at community events that connect people to nature.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo announced on November 21, 2025 that Baba, a female reticulated giraffe and one of the oldest of her species in the United States, was humanely euthanized after her age related health declined. Baba had lived at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for 30 years and was 31 years old at the time of her death.
Veterinary staff said Lama had been treated for arthritis for several years with medication, therapies and other approaches aimed at preserving quality of life. According to Dr. Audrey Siegrist, senior director of veterinary services, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams had worked for several years to manage Baba’s arthritis through medication, treatments and therapeutic approaches. “In the last few days, it became clear that her arthritis had progressed to the point that we could no longer prevent further pain,” Siegrist said. “We made the difficult but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize Baba while she was surrounded by her herd and care givers. We will miss her tremendously.”
Baba stood about 15 feet tall and helped establish the Zoo’s giraffe herd over three decades. She gave birth to seven calves, and her son Jabari remains at the Zoo as its tallest resident at 17 feet. Zoo Director and CEO Jon Forrest Dohlin noted that Baba became a symbol of longevity for the species and created lasting connections with the community. She often appeared at the giraffe feeding where visitors of all ages offered leaves of green lettuce.
The local impact extends beyond grief. For many families and school groups in Fresno County the Zoo is a gateway to environmental education and conservation awareness. Reticulated giraffe populations have declined by more than 80 percent over the last 30 years, and the Zoo said it will continue conservation efforts through funding, research and education programs. Those programs play a role in public health and community wellbeing by providing outdoor learning, stress relief and opportunities for underserved residents to engage with wildlife.
Baba’s passing highlights the veterinary challenges of caring for aging zoo animals and underscores the need to support institutions that balance animal welfare, conservation science and community access to nature. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo will carry forward Baba’s legacy through its herd, its conservation work and its public programs.
