COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) is reflecting on the legacy of Khalid, a 17-year-old breeding male giraffe, who was humanely euthanized on Friday.

CMZoo says that his care team had been supporting him through mobility issues, and with his rapidly declining health over the past week, they made the decision to say goodbye.

Khalid would've been 18 in May, and the average life expectancy for a male giraffe in human care is 16 1/2 years.

Since he arrived in June 2010, Khalid, aka "Big Daddy," was the zoo's only breeding bull. He was the father of seven calves, including 6-year-old Viv and 3-year-old Wednesday, two female giraffes that currently live at the zoo.

“He was a gentle giant. He had this huge imposing head and body paired with a surprisingly gentle de

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