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The zoo said that in its 40 years of having giraffes, this was the first time one of them had escaped the enclosures.

\"We will reevaluate our giraffe exhibit and take extra precautions to ensure the continued safety of our animals and staff,\" the zoo's statement said.

Smith said staff do practice drills regularly in case of animal escapes. The zoo had just reopened Saturday for the season.

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