Mystery about gorillas at Leipzig Zoo: Two animal tragedies in one week!

Mystery about gorillas at Leipzig Zoo: Two animal tragedies in one week!

A tragic development occurred at Leipzig Zoo when two gorillas died within a week. Zoo director Prof. Jörg Junhold expressed dismay at this double loss. The exact cause of death of the animals, especially the 21-year-old gorilla Kibara and the seven-year-old gorilla Kio, remains unclear. Both animals exhibited similar symptoms such as weakness, refusal to eat and a distended abdomen, which did not resolve despite medical treatment. The gorillas' carcasses are currently being autopsied to gain a clear understanding of the causes of death, while the results are still pending.

Kibara did not wake up from anesthesia for medical intervention, while Kio died during a risky anesthesia a week earlier. Kio, the youngest member of the gorilla group, had been anesthetized due to his poor health after previously refusing to eat. Zoo veterinarian Andreas Bernhard determined that the medication was not effective in the days before his death. Kio ultimately died of circulatory failure during the procedure, although the exact cause of his illness is suspected to be in the digestive tract, as [n-tv] reports.

Mourning in Pongoland

The gorilla group in Pongoland shows great sadness for Kio, which indicates the close community among the animals. Zoo director Junhold described the loss as painful and praised the efforts of zoo staff, who are keeping the remaining four gorillas under close observation. It is unclear whether these animals are mourning their deceased relatives or whether they are also sick. The zoo is currently working with experts to best protect the remaining gorillas.

Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild and can live up to 40 years. In view of the frightening developments, the situation at Leipzig Zoo is being monitored very closely in order to identify and combat possible causes of the animals' illnesses.

Technological advances in gorilla research

As a perspective on research into the health of gorillas, new technologies are increasingly being used in various zoos, such as the Berlin Zoo. Experiments with cameras and artificial intelligence are being carried out here to better understand the behavior and needs of these impressive animals, as [Spiegel] describes in detail. Such innovations could be crucial in the future to better identify and prevent the causes of health problems similar to those found at Leipzig Zoo.