ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Seneca Park Zoo on Monday announced the death of its 6-year-old Masai male giraffe, Parker.

The zoo said the animal became caught in a support structure for the giraffe enclosure gate and was found unresponsive on Sunday inside the park's Savanna Building.

“The possibility of this kind of event happening was unforeseen and unprecedented,” said Zoo Superintendent Steve Lacy. “The gate structure, installed in 2018, is a standard giraffe enclosure feature and is used in a number of accredited zoos around the country.”

The Seneca Park Zoo says there have been no other reports of similar incidents at zoos with similar gates, but the manufacturer has been notified of the potential hazard.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums have been made aware of the incident and the Seneca Park Zoo is working with both agencies to modify the enclosure gate structure to prevent future incidents.

“Our hearts go out to the Seneca Park community and all the dedicated professionals at Seneca Park Zoo with the news of the death of their giraffe Parker,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos.

Parker came to Rochester from the Santa Barbara Zoo in 2018.