April the giraffe has died aged 20 after the animal’s pregnancy captured world’s heart.
According to the Animal Adventure Park in New York, April’s most recent veterinary check found she was suffering from a worsening condition.
Millions of viewers tuned in to the park’s live stream of April in 2017 as she gave birth to her calf, a boy named Tajiri.
She kept her fans on the edge of their seats as they repeatedly tuned into the feed over a seven week period from February to April, hoping to catch a glimpse of the birth.
Heartwarming footage of the live stream showed the adorable calf attempting to stand up as April licked it clean.
April went on to have another male calf in March 2019, but he sadly died at a zoo in Texas last year.
Animal Adventure Park owner Jordan Patch said in a statement: “She is a precious member of our family, and while we knew this day would eventually come, our hearts are hurting.”
April started showing signs of mobility problems last summer, and veterinary imaging showed she had arthritis in her feet and problems in her left hind leg.
Vets said animals as large as giraffes can deteriorate quickly from arthritis.
They said they tried joint supplements, pain medications, anti-inflammatories, padded flooring, diet changes and trimming April’s hoofs to try to slow the disease’s progression, but her mobility kept declining, and she started spending a lot more time lying down.
“The severity of her condition has been outpacing our ability to control April’s comfort,” they said.
Giraffes commonly live up to 26 years.
