Pittsburgh zoo announces death of 17-year-old giraffe, Sox

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium on Sunday announced the death of Sox, a 17-year-old female Masai giraffe.

The giraffe had been euthanized on Friday after a long bout with a chronic condition, the zoo said in the announcement.

“Sox had been undergoing treatment for chronic degeneration of the bones in her leg since last summer and quickly worsened last week,” the announcement said. “She was not responding to pain management efforts.”

After reviewing X-rays, a care team that included the zoo’s veterinary team and outside experts determined there were no ways to improve Sox’s quality of life.

Sox was born Oct. 25, 2007 at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo in the middle of the Red Sox’s sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the World Series. She was named Sox after both the victorious baseball club and her white ankles.

She came to the Pittsburgh Zoo in March 2013.

The Masai giraffe is the largest species of giraffe and can be found in central and southern Kenya and in Tanzania. They are known for their distinct and irregular star-like blotches that extend to their hooves.

Masai giraffes are listed as endangered mainly because of poaching and habitat fragmentation.

Along with Lewis, a male giraffe, the zoo said Sox was one of its most popular residents.

“Lewis may be the crowd-pleaser, but Sox was one of the keepers’ favorites,” said Lisa Caruso, lead keeper. “She was smart and curious and loved to train and learn new things, lie in the sun, and eat bananas. Sox especially loved her friend Spencer the zebra, with whom she shared her exhibit.”