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Gemina the "crooked-necked giraffe," one of the Santa Barbara Zoo's most recognizable and beloved animals, was humanely euthanized Wednesday, January 9, 2008. Her health had been declining over recent weeks, and she finally stopped eating altogether. Although we don't know what caused her poor health, all signs indicate old age and not the condition of her neck. Gemina lived beyond the average life expectancy for a female giraffe. A generation of central California school children has grown up with Gemina and made her a popular local figure. Gemina was the only non-human in a list of internationally known Santa Barbara area figures that included Nobel laureates, and celebrities such as John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt in a 2006 Santa Barbara News-Press story. Gemina led a very typical existence and was treated as a normal member of the herd. She was a cherished member of the Santa Barbara Zoo family, and she will be missed.
Gemina Memorial Fund You may contribute online or mail a donation to: Gemina Memorial Fund Gemina Memories
We are deeply saddened by the news of Gemina's passing. We are, however, thrilled that over the last 12 years our children had a chance to know Gemina ...and to even feed her, on occasion. :o) We love the Zoo and all of the animals there, but Gemina certainly was one of our favorites. She will be greatly missed.
I was saddened to hear of Gemina’s death. I’ll be visiting again in March and it will not be the same without Gemina.
Thank you for being such a beautiful role model for all of us with physical quirks.
I just wanted to tell you how sorry we are at the loss of Gemina the giraffe she was an inspiration to our family.
I loved her because she was different because of her crooked neck. I wish that the zoo could remember Gemina in their hearts. I am going to miss Gemina.
She was someone I could identify with in those hard pre/early-teen years, and if she could carry herself so beautifully, then I shouldn't hang my head either. After noticing how she was accepted by the others in the herd, I realized that we should be just as accepting of people with differences. Gemina was a life lesson I'm very thankful for.
We've been coming to visit Gemina with our now 14 year old son for his whole life! We are so sorry to hear of her passing.
We will truly miss seeing her when we come to visit our beloved giraffes at the SB Zoo. May she rest well and know how much she was loved.
You were truly a beautiful creature. Your neck flaw made you unique and an inspiration to myself and so many others. I wish you were still with us but you'll always be in my heart.
Gemina was our favorite and she always reminded us that no matter if you look different we are still the same. It touched me that an animal that was different was so loved and accepted.
So sad to hear about Gemina. She will be truly missed, however I know she will be happy back on her home world with the other crooked necked animals.
I never knew Gemima was her name...my family always just called her the crooked-necked giraffe and she was always a highlight of our visits to the beautiful Santa Barbara Zoo. We relocated to Washington state about 4 years ago, but visit family in Ventura about once a year and a day at the Santa Barbara Zoo is always on the itinerary. It will be a sad day when we visit next and Gemima isn't there. I'm glad she lived a full long life and died peacefully.
When I was sick, I asked my dad if we could go see Gemina! I love Gemina 100 times.
Gemina was my favorite animal. She is my number one fan. I am her number one fan.
We Love You Gemina
She is our star. We’ll never forget you Gemina.
Gemina was a good giraffe. She died on January 9, 2008. It is sad.
Gemina was my favorite animal in the zoo.
“My best zoo animal was Gemina. She was the best giraffe in the world. I loved her very much! I’m sure everyone loved her too. Every time I saw her, she made me very happy.”
“I remember Gemina gave birth to a real baby. I sure miss her. It’s sad. “
“Gemina was my best friend. When I was six she used to be my favorite animal. She was the best giraffe I’ve ever seen.”
I was sorry to hear that Gemina had passed away. She was the last of the original group of Giraffe that I took care of several years ago. It makes me happy to hear that she lived a content and useful life by educating the public and successfully reproducing. She was a sweet and gentle girl and it was my honor to have been her keeper.
I have always loved coming to see Gemina and the other giraffes. I became so excited one night watching my favorite tv show ALIAS as Michael Vaughn and Sydney Bristow (played by Michael Vartan and Jennifer Garner) discussed going up to spend a weekend in Santa Barbara. They specifically mentioned going to the zoo and seeing the crooked necked giraffe. My online friends from all over the world who are fans of the show were equally excited when I told them that Gemina actually existed and emailed pictures of her for them to see. Friends as far away as Portugal right now are mourning the loss of Gemina as I shared the news with them.
Gemina has been there as long as I can remember and, in my mind, was a permanent fixture. I imagined that when I had children, I would be able to bring them to meet Gemina, and use her story as one of inspiration for my children - that different can be beautiful, can be capable, and most of all, accepted.
This is a sad day indeed. I remember the first time I met Gemina just a few short years ago. At first you want to know all about what happened to her neck but then if you spend any time studying her at all you are quickly taken in by her sheer beauty and grace as I was. I fell in love with Gemina on my very first visit to the zoo. She was charming, graceful, and beautiful all at the same time. I will always cherish the time I got to spend watching her and feeding her. She was truly awe inspiring. I for one will miss her and be thankful that I did get to know her while she was with us. B
Gemina was my favorite animal at the zoo, and no visit was complete without visiting her. She always held her crooked neck gracefully.
I'm dreadfully sorry about Gemina. I remember seeing her pretty much every time I and my family went there except the most recent time, on November 1st. My mom and I wondered what had happened to her. Even though I never really knew Gemina that well, I still feel as though I've lost a very dear friend. (I felt the same way about the tiger that got loose near my area.) If I didn't have to go to school, I'd be on my way to the zoo right now. I know how much you'll miss her, and I will, too.
So sorry about little Gemina. She was our favorite person at the zoo.
My family wished to share its deepest condolences to the passing of Gemina. We have many fond memories taking Nieces and Nephews to the zoo, which always included a stop to feed the giraffes. Gemina will be dearly missed.
Gemina: We love you for standing so tall. We humans feel rather small … The challenges brought on my your crooked neck, clearly brought our own obstacles into check … We will miss your beautiful, exquisite face. Gemina, soaring elegant lady of grace.
I would like to express my deepest condolences on the death of Gemina, the world-famous crooked neck giraffe. I am very glad I got the chance to see her when I visited the zoo in 2006. I think all giraffes are unique but she was, of course, extremely unique due to her physical condition. As a pet parent who has had to make the difficult by humane decision to end an animal's suffering, I realize that the decision to euthanize her was probably one of the most difficult decisions that zoo officials have ever had to make. Anyone who ever saw her will never forget her and her memory will live on forever. Again, please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.
just heard on the news that Gemina died.... very sad, I love giraffes and I have seen her several times in Santa Barbara. We love you Gemina!
I'm going to miss that giraffe. We took our best friends and their son to the zoo and he was like "WOW! HER NECK IS CROOKED!" and I was really nonchalant about it, cuz I've grown up with it. The Zoo will never be the same ='(
"Santa Barbara's Most Recognizable Resident,"
So sorry about little Gemina. She was our favorite person at the zoo.
I am so sorry that Gemina died. She was my favorite animal at the zoo, and I love her. I am sad I won't see her next time I come to your zoo.
Surely one of the most cherished animals the Zoo has ever had. She will be missed by many, many for near and afar.
How sad but she did have a good life and about the best view in the world!
What a sad day for the SB Zoo and all of Santa Barbara.
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