A Long, Loving Life—ABQ BioPark Remembers Buccaneer the Giraffe

Buccaneer, the male giraffe at the ABQ BioPark, loved watching guests as much as they loved watching him. Not only did he make an impression on millions of guests, he also made a difference for the conservation of giraffes. His absence, after compassionate euthanization this week, will be felt for a long time.

“Bucc came to the BioPark in 2006 when he was three years-old,” said BioPark assistant animal curator Casey Taylor. “Since then, he has charmed his way into the hearts of countless guests and was highly regarded by his caretakers. At 22 years-old, Bucc was the third oldest male giraffe in any AZA zoo, and he will be deeply missed by all who cared for him.” 

Bucc lived well beyond the median life expectancy of 16.5 years for male reticulated giraffes, and was known as one of the oldest animals in the BioPark, relative to their life expectancy. Reticulated giraffes are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

Bucc fathered 11 calves, and he was a huge contributor to diversifying the healthy genetics of reticulated giraffes throughout the country. Five of those 11 were with June, another longtime and treasured member of the BioPark giraffe herd.

Being an elderly animal, Bucc developed arthritis but was made comfortable by his care team with medication, a specialized diet, and habitat adjustments. They also implemented sand piles and rubber mats to help him get up and down easier, and added extra bedding to make his sleeping space softer. He was also aided by smoothed out terrain and lower feeding perches.

Lately, his medical team began to notice that his arthritis did not seem to be relieved by medication and modifications, and his mobility was decreasing. With colder temperatures incoming that would likely worsen his condition, the heartbreaking but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize Bucc was made on September 24. 

Taylor described Bucc as the most people-oriented giraffe in the BioPark herd, noting he loved meeting new people and was very curious. 

“When I walked by the habitat, Bucc would always come up to the front because he recognized me, and I loved seeing how excited the public would get,” Taylor recalled. “Bucc was so welcoming to new people and new keepers, too. He always acted like a new person was the BEST person. It always made new people fall in love with him so easily.” 

“We know that Bucc has likely been a part of your Zoo visits for a long time, and we are honored to have been able to care for him,” said Taylor. “He was a great ambassador for the species and allowed people to feel connected.”

To learn more about Bucc and June’s geriatric care, see this video. 

MEDIA: photos and videos of Bucc, as well as a raw version of the video without captions and lower-thirds are available.