A second giraffe at the Milwaukee County Zoo has died in a week

Just a week after Milwaukee County Zoo's giraffe Bahatika died, a second giraffe, Rahna, was humanely euthanized.

Although Bahatika's death last week was unexpected, Rahna, a 30-year-old female giraffe, had long been monitored by animal care staff due to age-related health issues. In the zoo's announcement, officials noted that, "according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the median life expectancy of a female giraffe living in a zoo is 20 years old."

Rahna, who was born in 1992 at a Colorado Springs zoo, has been a Milwaukee resident since 1994. Although she gave birth to one calf nearly 25 years ago, Rahna didn't take well to motherhood and her calf was hand-raised by zookeepers before it was moved to a zoo in California. Zookeepers said Rahna "eventually settled into the patient 'auntie' role" to Milwaukee's other giraffes.

Although Rahna was often seen to be stubborn — such as refusing to participate in voluntary blood draws until this past January — her zookeepers also described her as friendly and enjoyed "watching her grow from a smart and 'sassy' young giraffe into a sweet and mellow senior."