This is Tebogo, who is very alive.

We’ve been following the sorrowful dwindling of the giraffe population at the Dallas Zoo for a couple months now.

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

At first, it was a story about the giraffe breeding program, the fragility of the calf, the daily life of a zookeeper and other Dallas Zoo staff.

Then another giraffe, an adult, died, and then another. The last two, Auggie and Jesse, according to the zoo, could potentially be connected — a possibility that foreshadows future casualties? We hope not.

Right after Jesse died, the zoo reported that necropsy results from both giraffes pointed to liver damage, “which is leading us to focus on the possibility that they were exposed to a toxin of some sort, either through a food source, in the exhibit space, or introduced via a foreign object.”

They said they were also are testing for zoonotic diseases, including encephalomyocarditis (EMC) and working — along with experts from across the country — through lab test results on blood, tissue, food, plants, and other items.

A spokesperson said the staff was doing everything in its power to “pinpoint exactly what happened.”

A zoo spokesperson Tuesday says its care team can now rule out a few possibilities.

For one, the giraffes did not die from a COVID vaccine, because the zoo has not begun to inoculate the animals against COVID. The Dallas Zoo is on a waiting list to receive doses of the vaccine for the animals. Note to self, read about zoo animals and COVID. I did, and so can you.

They have been able to eliminate EMC but are still awaiting results on other zoonotic diseases.

The staff surveyed and is testing vegetation in the habitat and feed yard. As a precaution, they removed a few trees and plants.

“We are confident that we’ve eliminated possible risks that may have come from within the habitat and feel very confident in allowing animals back into these spaces.”

The spokesperson notes that exposure to a toxin is a still potential connection given the abnormal liver enzymes, “but we are exploring every possible cause,” they note.

The zoo’s communications team continues to post updates on its Facebook page.