SPRINGFIELD, MO. -- Officials at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield say a giraffe that sired 23 offspring has been euthanized.
The giraffe, called Stretch, was euthanized Thursday because he suffered from severe arthritis and had little hope of recovery.
The zoo said in a news release that at age of 23 years, 10 months, Stretch was the second-oldest living male giraffe listed in the North American studbook.
Zoo officials say a preliminary necropsy found the giraffe suffered from severe joint degeneration in both hips.
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