Morefu

Morefu (born July 23, 1985 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; died December 29, 2009 in Birmingham) was a male reticulated giraffe who was exhibited at the Birmingham Zoo from June 1986 until his death. At the time of his death, the 18-foot-tall, 2,140-pound giraffe was the oldest living male of his species in North America according to the International Species Information System.

Morefu had three offspring with Mara, Olympia, born in February 1996, Sandy born in June 1997, and Ellie, born in August 2000. He had two more offspring with Juno, a female giraffe that was brought to Birmingham from Topeka, Kansas in 2002. Rowan, a male, born in August 2006 and Willow, a female, born in July 2008.

Morefu was euthanized by zoo veterinarians when it was determined that he was no longer responding to medications for arthritis and other conditions.

References

• Oberholzer, Kristin (July 29, 2008) "Birmingham Zoo welcomes newborn giraffe." The Birmingham News
• Thornton, William (December 30, 2009) "Giraffe at the Birmingham Zoo dies." The Birmingham News
• DeButts, Jimmy (December 30, 2009) "Zoo euthanizes USA's oldest male giraffe." Birmingham Business Journal
• Lackey, Laurie Bingaman (December 31, 2009) 2009 North American/Global Giraffe Studbook International Species Information System