Buzz
Giraffes are famous for their long, spotted necks, but Gemina’s neck stood out for a peculiar reason. Born in 1986 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, she relocated to the Santa Barbara Zoo before turning one. Initially, her neck seemed perfectly normal, but by the age of three, it began to develop an unusual and noticeable curve.
Zookeepers were baffled by the cause of her neck’s bend. Despite a fall at age two, X-rays showed no injuries. However, they revealed that two of her neck vertebrae (C3 and C4) had fused together. Veterinarians were unable to explain why this fusion occurred—a condition not seen in giraffes since 1902. Over time, the bend grew more severe, eventually forming an almost 90-degree angle.
Gemina’s condition was remarkable because such neck deformities are rare in giraffes without broken necks. A recent video of an adult male giraffe in Botswana with a similar, though less severe, neck bend sparked theories about birth defects or injuries from fights. (Giraffes often engage in "necking," which can lead to broken necks but rarely fatal outcomes. Another example is a male giraffe in Tanzania with a comparable condition.)
Despite her unusual neck, Gemina led a largely typical life at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Standing at 1 feet tall, her unique appearance drew crowds from far and wide. Zoologists confirmed that her bent neck caused no pain or discomfort, and her fellow giraffes treated her no differently. However, her peripheral vision was somewhat restricted, and her shorter tongue necessitated separate feeding. In 1991, at age five, she gave birth to a calf, which unfortunately succumbed to pneumonia.
The Santa Barbara Zoo’s director of animal programs and conservation hailed Gemina as the "most renowned individual in our care." In 2006, she starred in an episode of The Miracle Workers, inspiring a young boy with scoliosis. The following year, locals voted her the top choice in a radio station’s "Seven Wonders of Santa Barbara" poll.
Gemina passed away in 2008 at the age of 21. Her legacy lives on through the book Gemina: The Crooked-Neck Giraffe, with proceeds benefiting the zoo she called home. A commemorative plaque at the zoo now honors her memory.
