SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 26-year-old giraffe was euthanized at the Sacramento Zoo days before her birthday due to her declining health, zoo officials said.

The reticulated giraffe named Sky was receiving care and treatment for age-related issues. On Friday, veterinarians decided to "humanely euthanize" the giraffe. 

Skye was born on July 14, 1998, at the Milwaukee Zoo and relocated to Sacramento in 1999. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has labeled Skye's species as vulnerable due to a population decline of over 50% in the past three decades due to poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, the zoo said.

There are four other female Masai giraffes available for viewing daily at the zoo.