Sacramento Zoo temporarily closed after giraffe dies

Photo: Laurel Vincent/Sacramento Zoo via AP
This May 25, 2015, photo provided by the Sacramento Zoo, shows Val, a giraffe at the zoo in Sacramento, Calif. The Sacramento Zoo is temporarily closed following the death of Val, one of its four giraffes, who passed away at the zoo Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. Val turned 24 on Valentine's Day and was starting to show signs of aging. The zoo was closed so the animal care team can focus on transporting the giraffe to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Updated: August 10, 2019 06:43 PM

The Sacramento Zoo has been temporarily closed following the death of one of its four giraffes.

The California zoo says Val was found deceased in her sleeping quarters early Saturday. She turned 24 on Valentine's Day (hence the name Val) and was starting to show signs of aging, including lameness in her front left leg and joint deterioration.

Zoo spokeswoman Laurel Vincent says the zoo was closed so the animal care team can focus on transporting the giraffe to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. A necropsy will be performed there to determine the cause of death.

Val was known for being the laid-back leader of the herd.

Vincent said the zoo would likely reopen Saturday afternoon and resume regular business hours on Sunday.