Giraffe dismembered, probe launched by outraged mayor - A giraffe was dismembered and left in a rubbish bin after she died, and an outraged US mayor has launched a probe into why it happened.

Kashka suffered a debilitating leg injury after a recent fall at Rio Grande Zoo in New Mexico.

Zoo officials tried unsuccessfully to treat the condition and in the end, veterinarians made the decision to put the 16-year-old animal to sleep.

Kashka stood 15-feet tall, weighed about 2,000lbs and was born at the Miami Metro Zoo on January 3, 1994.

During her time at Rio Grande Zoo she gave birth to six calves.

The manner in which she was treated after her death provoked a furious reaction from Mayor Richard Berry of Albuquerque.

‘This is nothing short of outrageous and the mayor has expressed that very publicly. This is unacceptable behaviour from a city employee,’ said mayoral spokesman Chris Ramirez.

The mayor has ordered a report to be delivered to him by the end of the week

Betty Rivera, the director of the city’s cultural services department, which oversees the zoo said: ‘She was a good mother and we’re very, very sad and we’re embarrassed and upset.’