A popular zoo giraffe has tragically died after trapping its neck between two tree branches while trying to scratch an itch.
The 10-year-old male giraffe named Hairong had been living at the Kunming Zoo for five years until its sad death in freak circumstances.
Guests at the zoo in Kunming, capital city of south-western China‘s Yunnan Province, were horrified to see the mammal’s neck lodged between the two thick branches.
It had often used that part of tree to scratch its neck. However, on this day it became stuck.
Zoo staff used a ladder to reach its head but it was firmly lodged.
They tried sawing one of the branches off but were still no able remove animal’s neck from the gap.
Crowds had gathered and could not look away from the morbid sight.
One bystander filmed the distressing incident. Their video shows the moment Hairong collapses to the ground after its neck is finally freed.
The animal’s head swings and hits a zoo employee on the way down.
Employees at the Kunming Zoo performed chest compressions and said the animal tried several times to stand up.
However, it was pronounced dead by vets after having suffered a severe neck injury.
The zoo said Hairong often used the tree to scratch itches it could not reach.
They believe he was attempting to do the same when he snagged his neck between the branches.
The incident is under investigation.
