Baby giraffe dies in Central California zoo accident

FRESNO, CA -- A giraffe born at a Central California zoo last month has died after running into a fence in an exhibit.

The male giraffe born at the Chaffee Zoo died Sunday evening during a special preview event for the new African Adventure exhibit set to open on Thursday.

General curator Dan Subaitis said the giraffe ran into a single wire fence and likely broke his neck.

He said officials aren't sure what got the young giraffe running. The giraffe had been in the exhibit for five days.

The fence was put up to protect trees from the animals.

A necropsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

The giraffe, which had yet to be named, weighed 188 pounds at birth and was the twelfth reticulated giraffe birth in the zoo's history.