Zoo Atlanta giraffe dies unexpectedly

Zoo Atlanta officials say they don’t know what caused the death Wednesday of a 7-year-old female giraffe.

Mona was in an outdoor corral when she collapsed, Zoo Atlanta spokeswoman Keisha Hines said. The giraffes were not on exhibit due to wet conditions.

“This is a tragic loss for the Zoo Atlanta family – especially so because it was extremely sudden,” Zoo Atlanta deputy director Dwight Lawson said. “Mona had shown no signs of illness or distress prior to her abrupt collapse.”