Buccaneer, a male giraffe who had lived at the ABQ BioPark since 2006, was euthanized this week after his health declined due to arthritis. Buccaneer, known as “Bucc,” arrived at the BioPark when he was three years old and quickly became a favorite among guests and staff.
“Bucc came to the BioPark in 2006 when he was three years-old,” said BioPark assistant animal curator Casey Taylor. “Since then, he has charmed his way into the hearts of countless guests and was highly regarded by his caretakers. At 22 years-old, Bucc was the third oldest male giraffe in any AZA zoo, and he will be deeply missed by all who cared for him.”
Buccaneer exceeded the median life expectancy for male reticulated giraffes, which is about 16.5 years. Reticulated giraffes are classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
During his time at the BioPark, Bucc fathered 11 calves and played an important role in maintaining genetic diversity among reticulated giraffes in zoos across the country. Five of these offspring were with June, another long-standing member of the herd.
As Bucc aged, he developed arthritis. The animal care team worked to make him comfortable through medication, dietary adjustments, changes to his habitat such as sand piles and rubber mats to help him move more easily, extra bedding for softer sleeping spaces, smoothed terrain, and lower feeding perches.
Recently, staff observed that Bucc’s arthritis no longer responded to treatment and his mobility continued to decline. With colder weather approaching—conditions that could worsen his symptoms—the decision was made on September 24 to humanely euthanize him.
Taylor described Bucc as especially sociable: “When I walked by the habitat, Bucc would always come up to the front because he recognized me, and I loved seeing how excited the public would get,” Taylor recalled. “Bucc was so welcoming to new people and new keepers, too. He always acted like a new person was the BEST person. It always made new people fall in love with him so easily.”
“We know that Bucc has likely been a part of your Zoo visits for a long time, and we are honored to have been able to care for him,” said Taylor. “He was a great ambassador for the species and allowed people to feel connected.”
Photos and videos of Buccaneer are available from ABQ BioPark.
