Rest in Peace, Jalil

May 13, 2026 – Birmingham, Ala – Your Birmingham Zoo is reflecting on the incredible legacy of Jalil (pronounced “Ja Leel”), a 20-year-old breeding male giraffe. Jalil was humanely euthanized on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. His care team had been supporting him through age related mobility issues for several years, but Jalil’s health recently began to decline. Jalil was born on May 9, 2006, at the San Francisco Zoo and came to the Birmingham Zoo on March 23, 2007.

After exhausting all possible humane treatments for Jalil, and considering his advanced age, the decision was made to compassionately say goodbye to him. Jalil had just turned 20 on May 9. The median life expectancy for male giraffe in human care is 15.3 years according to the Species Survival Plan from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

For several years Jalil has been under treatment for mobility related challenges. To help with his comfort, Jalil received stem cell treatments, Adequan injections, laser therapy, custom shoes, routine radiographs, voluntary hoof trims from Birmingham Zoo’s animal team and visits from the Zoo Hoofstock Trim Program. He was also under close management for weight retention challenges and rumen health concerns. In order to best support his needs, his care team developed a strategic feeding schedule and custom diet to aid in helping Jalil maintain suitable weight.

Due to continued decline with mobility and other age-related ailments, Jalil retired from the Kiwanis Giraffe Feeding Experience. Over the past 19 years he ate countless cases of romaine lettuce to the delight of Birmingham Zoo guests.

Jalil’s presence at the Birmingham Zoo was as big as the legacy he leaves behind. Weighing in at 2,400 pounds and standing sixteen feet tall, he was the Zoo’s only breeding bull since he arrived in June 2007. He fathered two calves at the Birmingham Zoo, including Griffin (born Jan. 1, 2014) and Mopane (born April 17, 2024). Griffin (12) now lives in Tennessee while Mopane (2) remains at the Birmingham Zoo with Mom Ruby (7) and Aunt Zuri (16).

“Jalil’s legacy will live on in our hearts,” said Amy Toman, Curator at the Birmingham Zoo. “For the past 13 years of my career with the Birmingham Zoo, it has been one of my greatest honors to care for Jalil. Looking back at our years together, he shaped me into the Curator that I am today,” said Toman. “As a young keeper, we learned many skills together – he was always patient and forgiving, while I learned how to communicate with him and build a lasting foundation of trust with our relationship. Together we expanded what could be done for giraffe husbandry through training and trust which included voluntary blood collection/plasma banking, stem cell injections, weekly hoof trims, intermittently wearing custom shoes to cushion his joints, daily laser therapy, and so much more,” she said. “I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my career, and I could not have asked for a better best friend and mentor. ”

The name “Jalil” means honored one in Swahili and was submitted by Ramsay High School in a naming contest when he arrived. His original name was Gordon. “Honored one” seemed to be more fitting.

Jalil loved interacting with the public and never missed a snack. He leaves behind a legacy inspiring thousands from his time at BZI. Since the opening of the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter (KGE) in 2012, Jalil remained a steadfast participant ready to greet all with his charm and charisma. He was the star of the show, waiting patiently (or pushing his way to the front) for the gates to open and only left the platform for the occasional patrol of the habitat to check on the other giraffes.

Jalil was a social media star over the years and was always the first to greet our guests during Behind-the-Scenes tours in the giraffe barn. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Jalil up close, you might remember his favorite thing was to smell you, especially if you entered the barn wearing cologne or perfume. As a fun opportunity for him, Jalil’s animal care team kept various bottles and collections of perfume to engage him with ever-changing smells as an enrichment activity.

“Jalil was surrounded by his animal care team at the Zoo at his passing,” said Chris Pfefferkorn, President and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo. Professors and veterinary students from Auburn University and Tuskegee University were present to learn and assist.  “Even after his death, Jalil will continue to make contributions to his species,” said Pfefferkorn. “Jalil’s care knowledge will be shared with other giraffe care and veterinary professionals.”

Committed to continuing to grow and diversify the population of giraffes in human care, the Birmingham Zoo plans to welcome another breeding bull to the Zoo in the future as part of the Species Survival Plan. “For now, we continue to remember Jalil and the positive impact he made on all of us,” said Pfefferkorn. “He is the honored one.”

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