Veteran Giraffe killed in AK

[Laurajean1014]

One of the very first animals at AK was killed the other day (Tuesday) in a fierce lightening storm. She was grasing by a tree when she was struck and instantly killed.

So sad.

 

[Harambe]

That is so sad! Lightning is so scary!

 

[gumdrop]

 

[Chip126]

That is soooo sad.

 

[psiprez]

Well, who knew. I guess there is a downside to being the tallest object on the savannah. You'd have thought they'd have anticipated this (all those FLA thunderstorms...), but I know lightening can strike out-of-the-blue.

 

[snowgooseltd]

We read about this in our local newspaper. It was an AP article and although short, gave the info that the giraffe, "Susie", was six years old and was among tourists when it happened. Does anyone know if the Safari trucks were running during this lightening storm and whether or not it was witnessed by guests? I would think that Disney would close the ride during a storm like that. Perhaps Safari Steve would know.........

 

[BowlingAriel]

I am 2 hrs south of Orlando and our papers coverage didn't say anything about tourists being near the giraffe when it was struck.

It did state that the lightning storm came upon the savannah so quick they didn't have time to get all the animals in. I remember from taking the Sunrise Safari that there are lightning rods all over to protect the animals.

It also stated that this was AK's first casualty, compared to other parks in the state this was shocking.

 

[ZachnElli]

That is very sad! I'm not surprised though. We just got back last night and there were several storms and the lightning was amazing! We high tailed it back to our room, and we usually stick out the rain, but not that lightning!

 

[gshoemate]

The Orlando Sentinal didn't say anything about witnesses but somewhere I heard that there were around 90 people that seen it.

 

[LibertyBelle]

This was a sad accident. The storm that hit the park that day was very "out of the blue" I know that at MK we had lightning bolts dropping out of the blue sky (in 21 years in Florida I have Never seen such a thing, it was very strange). It was clear blue and then all of a sudden there were lightning bolts and then a nasty storm. From what I saw that day there was no way they could have know that it was coming, that storm literally developed over the park (no radar warning). The safari was still running (since they didn't even know a storm was approaching) and guests did in fact see the the the lightning strike. The whole thing is really sad, that same night the monorail beam and tinkerbells "guide" were also struck... it was a nasty storm.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

This is so tragic. There was even an article about it in our local paper, all the way out here in San Jose, CA. Our article said her name was "Betsy", though, and that she was six years old.
I just hope she didn't suffer.

 

[JANIE G.]

IT'S SUCH SAD NEWS!

 

[Safari Steve]

I was told that the strike was "out of the blue" (lightning can strike from clouds that are miles away)... I don't know if guests saw it, but I was told that some did.
Ligtning Rods, nearby shelters, radar systems and there are still things that you can't predict or prevent.

 

[snowgooseltd]

Steve...thanks for responding. It helps to have a CM who reads the posts and can comment with actual knowledge about the things that go on at our beloved WDW. We're so far away that we have to live vicariously through those in the know, even when the news is sad. Thanks again........

 

[sm4987]