Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

This morning, the Long Island Game Farm is defending its care for Bobo the giraffe who died last year.

As News 12 has reported, USDA says the farm had the 3-year-old giraffe on an energy deficient diet and was kept in a barn with insufficient heating.

The agency also says Bobo was suffering with parasites for months.

In a statement, the president of the Long Island Game Farm says, "Bobo had been leased to Long Island Game Farm for the summer seasons from a zoo down south. We followed the feeding schedule provided by Bobo’s owner and his veterinarians. As stated in the USDA report, Bobo suffered from malnutrition as a result of heavy parasitic load resistant to medication not starvation."

The Manorville farm went on to say the temperature at the facility is well above 60 degrees in cooler temperatures, and outside temperatures in October, when Bobo died, were around 58 degrees. The barn was kept warmer to keep him comfortable and safe.

The farm says there were no violations according to the USDA.