SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- One of the oldest living giraffes has died at the Oakland Zoo in the U.S. western state of California, the zoo tweeted Thursday.
The 28-year-old giraffe, nicknamed Tiki, was well-known to local residents for donning an extra coat to keep warm against winter cold over nine years ago.
Tiki was 95 in "giraffe years" and extremely feeble. She was euthanized at the zoo for suffering multiple diseases, including ringbone arthritis that impacted her feet, back and neck.
"With heavy hearts we mourn the loss of Tiki," the zoo said on its official Twitter account.
The animal, born in the zoo, gave birth to five healthy calves over past years, the zoo said, adding that she had also helped raise seven calves who were not her own.
Tiki gained her fame in 2008 when she needed that special, custom-made coat to go outside from her heated barn to socialize with her herd-mates in the winter months.
Extolled as being patient and gentle, she was loved by many zoo-goers who went to visit her in the zoo.
