Female sable antelope dies at zoo
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

"Maggie," a female sable antelope at The Zoo of Northwest Florida was found dead in her exhibit on the morning of Nov. 24. She died due to difficulty giving birth, zoo officials said.

The 16 year-old antelope was born on May 27, 1991 and was featured on Animal Planet in 2004. The average life-span of an antelope in captivity is 18 years.

The Zoo was aware that Maggie was pregnant, but did not know her exact due date. She had given birth eight times before.

"Tissue samples were sent for analysis, and as suspected, the pathology reports confirm Dystocia, or difficulty giving birth, as the cause of death," said Gus Mueller, the Zoo's veterinarian. "She has given birth many times before, so there was no reason to expect a problem with this birth. While in labor, the report states she had 'vascular congestion with acute hemorrhage', leading to her death."

The necropsy report showed no other health issues other than the struggle with childbirth.

For more information, contact executive director Danyelle Lantz at (850) 932-2229 or visit www.thezoonorthwestflorida.org.