The zoo was unusually quiet that afternoon, the kind of stillness that feels almost sacred. Sunlight filtered softly through the trees, falling on a hospital bed inside the giraffe enclosure. Lying there was Mario, 54, frail and tired, yet smiling despite the pain.
For over half his life, Mario had worked at Rotterdam’s Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo. Though not officially a zookeeper, his heart belonged to the animals. As a maintenance worker, he spent decades cleaning the giraffe enclosure, repairing fences, feeding the animals, and caring for them as if they were family. The giraffes knew him — his voice, his scent, and the gentle rhythm of his daily visits.
But cancer had changed everything. Mario could no longer walk, work, or visit the animals he loved. In the hospital, he had just one wish: to see his giraffes one last time.
That wish was granted by the Ambulance Wish Foundation, a Dutch charity that fulfills the final wishes of terminally ill patients. When the ambulance arrived, staff and volunteers watched as Mario was wheeled into the enclosure. For the first time in months, he was home.
As Mario’s bed neared the giraffes, the tallest one stepped forward. The enclosure was silent except for the rustle of leaves and the soft sound of hooves. Then, in an extraordinary moment, the giraffe leaned down and gently pressed its nose to Mario’s face — a silent, tender farewell.
Tears streamed down Mario’s cheeks as he reached up to touch the animal that had shared so many of his days. “They recognized him,” said Kees Veldboer, founder of the Ambulance Wish Foundation. “You could see they knew something was different. It was extraordinary — he was beaming the entire time.”
Afterward, Mario spent time with his coworkers, sharing quiet laughter and memories. For a man who had lived simply, quietly, and devotedly behind the scenes, it was a farewell that spoke volumes.
Mario passed away not long after. But the image of that giraffe bending down to touch him has become a symbol of love, loyalty, and gratitude. It reminded everyone that true compassion transcends words and species — sometimes, saying goodbye only requires a touch, a look, and the quiet grace of being remembered.
