Mourning at Leipzig Zoo: Gorilla Kio is dead. The zoo announced that the seven-year-old western lowland gorilla died following an anesthetic, which had become necessary due to his poor state of health. Prior to this, the animal had increasingly refused to eat and showed clear symptoms of illness.
"The medication administered in the previous days had not worked," said zoo vet Andreas Bernhard. Despite the risk, it was therefore decided to give him an anesthetic. Kio died of circulatory failure during the procedure. The exact cause of the clinical picture is unclear, but is suspected to be in the digestive tract.
Farewell in Pongoland - gorilla group mourns youngest member
Kio was the youngest gorilla cub born at Leipzig Zoo. The sympathy was particularly great in Pongoland, where he lived together with his group around silverback Abeeku. The animals were given the opportunity to say goodbye to him after his death. "The loss hurts us very much," said zoo director Jörg Junhold.
The return of the female okapi Zawadi provides a ray of hope. The 16-year-old animal lived in Leipzig's okapi forest from 2011 to 2022 and is now back after a good two years at Wroclaw Zoo. The decision was made by the European Conservation Breeding Program. Zawadi had raised three young animals in Leipzig - her offspring now live on in several generations. She will first settle into the barn before she can explore the outdoor enclosure again.
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