Baby giraffe befriended by a dog after it was abandoned in the wild has died with its canine pal by its side at South African animal orphanage

• Baby giraffe Jazz arrived at The Rhino Orphanage after a farmer discovered him
• Resident watchdog Hunter, a young Belgian Malinois, befriended young Jazz
• Jazz collapsed after a brain hemorrhage on Friday leaving keepers ‘heartbroken’

A baby giraffe that was befriended by a dog after he was abandoned in the wild has died, a South African animal orphanage said Friday.  

Jazz the month-old giraffe collapsed after hemorrhaging in the brain on Friday leaving his keepers ‘heartbroken’.

The Rhino Orphanage, in Limpopo Province, South Africa, said in a Facebook post: ‘The last two days before we lost him, Jazz started looking unstable on his legs and very dull, almost like he wasn’t registering everything.

‘He suddenly collapsed and we could see blood starting to pool back into his eyes.’

A friend to the bitter end resident watchdog Hunter seemed to realize something was wrong and didn’t leave the baby giraffe´s side, and was there when he died.

Hunter, a Belgian Malinois, keeps an eye on Jazz, (pictured at nine days old) at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Jazz died of brain hemorrhaging and hyphema on Friday, December 6

The orphanage described how the dog then sat in front of the empty room for hours before going to its carers ‘for comfort.’

Orphanage staff had expected this to happen, assuming that the mother giraffe had abandoned the baby for a reason.

Arrie van Deventer, the orphanage’s founder said: ‘So we finally know that Jazz didn’t have a bad giraffe mother that left him.

‘She just knew. … But we still have to try every single time (to help) no matter how hard it is.’

The baby giraffe had arrived a few weeks ago, just days after birth. A farmer found him in the wild, weak and dehydrated without a mother, and called the The Rhino Orphanage for help. 

Hunter snuggles into Jazz, the nine-day-old giraffe, as if she is another dog. Both Hunter and his brother have become fond of the giraffe

The orphanage’s Facebook page, which featured several dozen photos documenting Jazz’s progress during his weeks at the facility, showed the baby giraffe and his canine friend sleeping side by side on blankets and wandering outdoors together.

A final photo showed Hunter sitting in front of the closed door of the room where he and the giraffe had spent time together.

The post had thousands of views and hundreds of comments expressing sadness for the giraffe’s passing and concern for how Hunter would handle the loss of his friend.

The two animals bonded immediately, caretaker Janie Van Heerden said.

A final photo showed Hunter sitting in front of the closed door of the room where he and the giraffe had spent time together (right). The baby giraffe and his canine friend sleeping side by side on blankets (left)

The two would have eventually been separated as keepers intended to return the giraffe to its rightful place in the wild

Janie Van Heerden feeds Jazz at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa, Friday Nov. 22 2019

 The young pair relax together on a blanket in the Rhino orphanage. Jazz would have out grown his fury friend in just weeks

Hunter keeps a look out as Jazz snoozes in his corner on a mattress. Baby giraffes can drink cows milk at an incredible rate – up to 12 pints a day

In its post, the orphanage paid tribute to Hunter’s loyalty: ‘He stayed till the end and said his goodbyes. Such a good boy.’ 

It added that Hunter was doing well and would continue training to be a tracking dog.

In the farewell message to Jazz the orphanage said :’You have taught us so much in the last three weeks and we will remember you fondly.’

The giraffe was buried close to the orphanage, Van Deventer said.

Unlike baby primates, he did not need to be fed at night, making looking after the orphan much less of a chore for keepers 

In just three or four years Jazz would have been full grown. The giraffe was on track to reach a hefty ten stone in just a month

Orphanage worker Janie Van Heerden looks on at the Rhino orphanage in the Limpopo province of South Africa Friday Nov. 22 2019

Keepers intended to introduce Jazz back into the wild, which would have also meant heartbreak for his loving friend Hunter

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