Tennessee Zoo Investigating Sudden Death of Spotless Giraffe After Ultra-Rare Animal Dies at Age 2

Tennessee Zoo Investigating Sudden Death of Spotless Giraffe After Ultra-Rare Animal Dies at Age 2

Kipekee was one of only two known spotless giraffes in the world and the only one living in human care

Dave Quinn

Mon, December 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM UTC

3 min read

Bright's Zoo Kipekee — Bright's Zoo
Kipekee

NEED TO KNOW

Kipekee, one of only two known spotless giraffes in the world and the only one in human care, died at age 2 at Brights Zoo in Tennessee
Her sudden death is under investigation, and veterinarians and experts will perform a full necropsy to determine the cause
Kipekee drew international attention after her 2023 birth and attracted thousands of visitors to the family-owned zoo

The sudden death of Kipekee — one of only two known spotless giraffes in the world, and the only one in human care — is under investigation after the she died on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at just 2 years old.

Brights Zoo in Tennessee said it is working with two giraffe veterinarians and consultants as well as experts at the University of Tennessee to determine what caused her death, noting that a full necropsy will be performed.

Giraffes typically live more than 30 years in the wild, and often longer in captivity, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

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Kipekee — whose name means “unique” in Swahili — was born in 2023 without the characteristic spots of her species, an ultra-rare genetic variation. At the time, zoo officials said she was believed to be the only living spotless giraffe in captivity and the first spotless giraffe documented since 1972, when a calf named Toshiko was born in Tokyo.

Months later, a second spotless giraffe was spotted in the wild in Namibia, though Kipekee's location at Brights Zoo made her far more popular.

Her presence there attracted international media attention, driving thousands of visitors to the family-owned facility. The zoo even added an overflow parking lot to accommodate the surge in visitors eager to see the unusual giraffe.

"Kipekee touched the hearts of millions of people around the world — and she held a very special place in the hearts of those who had the privilege of caring for her every day," the zoo said in a statement on Facebook while announcing the "heartbreaking news" with "overwhelming sadness" of Kipekee's death. "She was truly the sweetest soul and deeply loved her keepers."

It is not likely that Kipekee's lack of spots contributed to her death. Giraffe spots help with camouflage, kin recognition and body temperature control in the wild, but in a zoo setting, the absence of spots is not considered medically significant.

Following her death, thousands commented on the zoo’s Facebook post, expressing condolences and sharing images of their visits.

“During this incredibly difficult time, we kindly ask for privacy and for patience as the Bright family and our entire staff grieve the loss of this extraordinary animal,” the zoo said.

PEOPLE reached out to Brights Zoo for comment.

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