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Baby giraffe dies in California zoo accident

FRESNO, Calif. -- A baby giraffe born at a Central California zoo last month has died after running into a fence in an exhibit.

KFSN-TV reports that the male giraffe born Sept. 9 at the Chaffee Zoo died Sunday afternoon.

It happened during a special preview event for the new African Adventure exhibit that is set to open on Thursday.

A zoo spokeswoman says a necropsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

The giraffe weighed 188 pounds at birth and was the twelfth reticulated giraffe birth in the zoo's history.

The zoo posted a picture of the giraffe on its Facebook page after it was born last month, saying it was the first animal born in the African Adventure exhibit.

The adventure has begun! On Wednesday, a male reticulated giraffe was born at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The calf is the first...

Posted by Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Friday, September 11, 2015
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