According to the officials at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a 31-year-old gorilla died because it wasn’t able to recover from a standard anesthesia.
Anakka was a massive western lowland gorilla, and it was suffering from a serious heart condition which veterinarians managed with the help of special treatment. They reported the death on Monday during the regular medical procedure.
As previously mentioned, Anakka didn’t recover from the anesthesia, so the veterinarians had to confirm the dead of the large male. According to Dr. Randy Junge, Columbus Zoo animal health vice president, the veterinary team came to make a routine evaluation of the animal, which became unresponsive after the anesthesia.
Shortly after that, they concluded that there no signs of recovery, so they decided to euthanize the gorilla. The zoo officials state that Anakka most likely died because of a stroke. A full necropsy will reveal in a few weeks the exact cause why the animal wasn’t able to recover.
Anakka’s Life at the Columbus Zoo
Anakka spent the first part of his life at the Philadelphia Zoo where he was born in 1985. Since 1993 until he died, Anakka lived at the Columbus Zoo, time during which he became the father of 4 baby gorillas.
According to Audra Meinelt, Assistant Curator at the Columbus Zoo, both the gorillas and the visitors mourn the death of the gorilla. She further added that everyone loved Anakka because he was charismatic, very smart, and a great father.
Meinelt said that Anakka would be missed, as he was one of the symbols of the Columbus Zoo. After Anakka’s death, the zoo remains with two silverback males and other 15 gorillas.
Great News For The Zoo
Fortunately, the zoo’s officials have great news too because two polar bear cubs have recently joined the Columbus Zoo polar bear population.
Ananna, a nine-year-old female gave birth to the two cubs Tuesday, one day after Anakka’s passing. According to the officials, the twins are strong and healthy, so they have high chances of survival.
The twins are Ananna’s first cubs. Tom Stalf, Columbus Zoo President, says that baby polar bears have around a fifty percent rate of survival during the first few weeks after birth. Therefore, the veterinary team is constantly monitoring the cubs.
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