The National Zoo in Washington D.C. euthanized Jafari the giraffe yesterday due to skin cancer. Specialists aren't sure if he had melanoma or basal cell carcinoma. Jafari is the first giraffe to be diagnosed with either type of skin cancer.
Excerpt from the Washington Post:
Jafari had been closely observed since his surgery and yesterday appeared disoriented and began walking in circles, zoo spokesman John Gibbons said.
"Due to the poor prognosis, Zoo veterinarians and animal-care staff decided to euthanize," the zoo said in a statement.
In late August, zoo staff first noticed the lump on the top of his head. Veterinarians drew fluid on two occasions. The second indicated the presence of cancer cells. At the time of the operation, the tumor was described as about the size of a grapefruit.
Jafari was treated for several weeks for complications associated with skin cancer, the zoo said.
In either case, he said, it was unusual because neither of the skin cancers had been diagnosed in giraffes.
Noting this, Gibbons said that Jafari's death provided an opportunity to learn about the disease in giraffes.
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