Houston Zoo finds new problem with baby giraffe, decides to euthanize him

Yao and his mother at the Houston Zoo. Yao and his mother at the Houston Zoo. Photo: Houston Zoo Photo: Houston Zoo Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Houston Zoo finds new problem with baby giraffe, decides to euthanize him 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Houston Zoo officials on Friday euthanized baby giraffe Yao Ming, saying a bone infection caused severe arthritis that would have meant a life of pain.

"In the long run, it was definitely the right decision. … We don't want to see the animal suffer and go through chronic pain," said Dr. Wyatt Winchell, the veterinarian who had treated the giraffe.

Yao, born Feb. 25, had surgery in March to remove infected bone from his right shoulder. Veterinarians also found an infection in Yao's left rear leg, which healed more quickly because it did not affect the bone.

Zoo personnel watched the calf around the clock as he stuck close to his mother, Neema.

"Up until the last week he seemed to be improving," said Winchell, of Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Navasota. "He had been lying down a little more, though."

The veterinarian said the primary infection "probably set off the cascade of events that led to the arthritis and the injury to the cartilage in the hip joint."

Zoo Director Rick Barongi in an email called Yao "a fighter" and praised the "heroic" efforts of his keepers, Winchell and the zoo's veterinarians to save him.

"Yao was truly an exceptional giraffe calf that touched the hearts of everyone that had the privilege of interacting with him," Barongi said.