Brookfield Zoo giraffe dies Saturday in freak accident

A popular giraffe at Brookfield Zoo died in a freak accident that has "devastated" staff, officials said Saturday.

Dusti, an 11-year-old male, was found tangled in a rope and unresponsive in the early morning by a keeper.

Apparently, the curious giraffe had stuck his head over his enclosure door, reached around a 90 degree angle to an adjacent hallway and across a 6-foot span to reach the rope.

The rope was part of a pulley system and was fastened to the wall with safety clips.

Zoo officials said the giraffe got caught in the rope and died of a dislocated neck sometime early Saturday morning.

Employees who worked closely with Dusti were heartbroken by the incident, vice president of animal programs Kim Smith said. The giraffe, dubbed a "gentle giant," was a favorite of visitors and staff.

Dusti came to Brookfield from Busch Gardens in Florida in 1998. He was part of the Habitat Africa! The Savannah exhibit and fathered three giraffes.

Zoo administrators said they regularly checked animal enclosures for safety and were stunned the giraffe had been able to maneuver so far from his enclosure.