Zoo GaiaZOO in Kerkrade had to say goodbye to a 21-year-old gorilla woman last weekend.
The zoo announced this on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
2006
The gorilla has been staying at the zoo since 2006: ‘She has been able to watch other gorillas watch how a gorilla takes care of her young. She successfully raised two young. Both animals still live in the group of GaiaZOO.’
Not fit
At the beginning of this year, the gorilla’s appetite was already declining, after which she had trouble walking. A vet then examined her for the ailments: ‘The ultrasound and X-ray images showed a major abscess against the spine, resulting in neurological paralysis. There were also indications of bone inflammation in a vertebra and inflammation in an intervertebral disc,” the zoo said. It was then decided to have the gorilla follow a medication program, but this was not successful afterwards.
fall asleep
Therefore, after three days and in good consultation with the vet and the gorilla EEP breeding program, it was decided to put her to sleep. ‘This sad event, combined with the successful introduction of the silverback gorilla so far, shows once again how positive and negative things alternate when working with live animals. One moment you are excited about how well new animals relate to each other and the next you have to say goodbye to an animal that you have cared for for years,” writes GaiaZOO.
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