Toronto Zoo mourns death of giraffe Kiko after 'tragic' accident: '2026 has begun in the most heartbreaking way'

The Toronto Zoo is mourning the "sudden" death of a 13-year-old giraffe earlier this week, sharing that 2026 has started in the "most heartbreaking way."

On Friday, the zoo announced the loss of its male Masai giraffe named Kiko, indicating that during the afternoon on Thursday, he was given access to another area of his behind-the-scenes habitat. But upon exploring the new space, he got caught in the opening door.

"Kiko panicked and sustained injuries that, due to the unique anatomy of his species, proved fatal," the Toronto Zoo shared in a press release, explaining that Masai giraffes have delicate heads and a six-foot neck, and that Kiko had been recovering from a hoof injury.

An investigation has been launched, and the giraffe has been sent to the University of Guelph for a postmortem. The Toronto Zoo added that it'd release the full findings of the investigation after its completion.

The zoo also shared the news on social media, where reactions to the unfortunate incident poured in.

"Our hearts are with the Toronto Zoo team and community. Sending our love and support during this difficult time," the official account of The Calgary Zoo shared.

"So very sorry for your loss. Kiko has brought so much joy. This hits hard," someone wrote on Instagram.

"Sending love from Greenville," the official account for South Carolina's Greenville Zoo — where Kiko was born in 2012 — wrote. "Kiko was the first calf of Autumn, our female Masai giraffe. Our keepers followed his development and celebrated his fatherhood. We feel your sadness."

"I just bawled my eyes out. Kiko, you will be greatly missed. Rest easy, my friend," one person added.

Kiko's death comes weeks after the Toronto Zoo euthanized a popular male lion named Fintan. On Dec. 12, it announced that Fintan — who had lived at the zoo since 2012 — was put down after months of veterinary care.

According to the Toronto Zoo, Masai giraffes are under severe pressure. While they were once the most common type of giraffes, their numbers today have shrunk to under 44,000. Three and a half decades ago, there were an estimated 71,000 alive.

In 2018, the Masai giraffe became considered "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, after continuous poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation.