Endangered Masai giraffe Kiko dies in tragic behind-the-scenes accident at Toronto Zoo

Toronto Zoo has confirmed the death of Kiko, a 13-year-old male Masai giraffe, following a tragic behind-the-scenes accident on January 1, 2026. According to the zoo’s Facebook post, Kiko was given access to an additional area of his off-exhibit habitat on Thursday afternoon as part of routine animal care procedures. While exploring the space, the giraffe became trapped in an opening door. Despite an immediate response from the wildlife care team, Kiko panicked and sustained severe injuries that proved fatal.

“Due to the unique anatomy of giraffes — particularly their long necks and delicate head structure — even brief incidents can have devastating consequences,” the zoo said in a statement.

Zoo officials noted that shifting giraffes between spaces is a standard practice carried out thousands of times without incident, making the loss especially difficult for the animal care team Kiko had been receiving specialized veterinary care in recent months for a hoof and foot injury, which required modifications to his habitat and daily routine. Care teams had been optimistic about his recovery.
“This loss is impacting our Wildlife Health and Care team particularly hard,” the zoo said. “They have worked closely with Kiko and are deeply affected by this tragic event.”

Kiko has been transferred to the University of Guelph for a full postmortem examination. A formal investigation has also been launched by the zoo’s Health and Safety Services team. As an accredited institution, the Toronto Zoo said it will publicly share its findings once the investigation is complete.

While officials described the incident as “tragic and unfortunate,” they stressed their commitment to learning from it to prevent similar accidents in the future.

A loss for an endangered species

The death carries broader conservation implications. Masai giraffes, once the most common giraffe subspecies, are now listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their global population has declined by nearly 50% over the past three decades, falling to just over 43,000 individuals, largely due to poaching and habitat loss.
Accredited zoos play a key role in conservation through managed breeding programs, research, and public education. Encouragingly, conservation efforts have contributed to a slow population recovery over the past five years.

About Kiko

Born in 2012 at Greenville Zoo in South Carolina, Kiko arrived at the Toronto Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan, a coordinated breeding program designed to maintain healthy giraffe populations under human care.

He was paired with female giraffe Mstari and sired two calves, with a third expected in early 2026. “Kiko was an important ambassador for his species,” the zoo said. “His legacy lives on through his offspring and his contribution to giraffe conservation.” As the zoo mourns the loss, staff are focusing on supporting one another and monitoring Mstari closely as she enters the final stages of her pregnancy.