The first giraffe that died at the Mountain View Conservation Centre, multi-millionaire Gordon Blankstein's private zoo, died of a combination of the cold and an inappropriate diet. Gordon Blankstein had claimed that there was no abuse at his zoo, and that giraffes did not need heat in the cold Canadian winters. Over 30 staff from the Mountain View Conservation Centre had earlier come forward with over 50 cases of animal abuse at the zoo, and had claimed that Gordon Blankstein did not provide sufficient heat for his animals.