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Mourning at Leipzig Zoo: After the deaths of gorillas Kio and Kibara – causes clarified!
The lowland gorillas Kio and Kibara died of sepsis at Leipzig Zoo. Measures to protect the remaining animals have been initiated.
Mourning at Leipzig Zoo: After the deaths of gorillas Kio and Kibara – causes clarified!
A tragic situation has occurred at Leipzig Zoo: the two lowland gorillas Kio and Kibara have died. Kio died at the end of March, followed by Kibara just a week later. The suspected cause of Kibara's death was initially intestinal failure, but final pathological examinations revealed something sad. Loud thueringen24.de The actual cause was sepsis, which was caused by highly infectious E. coli bacteria with toxin formation and massive intestinal damage.
On May 23, the pathology report was released confirming that both gorillas suffered from severe intestinal damage. Zoo director Prof. Jörg Junhold expressed his dismay at the losses and emphasized the intensive efforts to clarify the medical causes zoo-leipzig.de. To ensure the welfare of the remaining gorillas, immediate measures were taken to stabilize the other animals.
Stabilization measures
The zoo's keepers have adjusted the care of the gorilla group. This included the provision of special drinks with substitutes and the administration of additives to stabilize the intestinal flora. Feeding has been intensified to ensure that the remaining gorillas, particularly Abeeku and Kumili, receive optimal care. These measures have proven successful, and according to zoo veterinarian Dr. Andreas Bernhard, the gorillas have returned to their normal feeding routine.
However, the psychological stress among the animals remains noticeable after the losses. In particular, Kumili, the female gorilla, was observed to have temporarily restricted food intake, while the behavior of the silverback male, Abeeku, also changed. The entire group is under medical and animal care control to ensure that all animals are well cared for and that loss processing is supported.
Research into causes and future
Research into the causes was carried out intensively with external experts. So far, the younger females of the gorilla group have shown no physical impairment. However, the well-being of the animals is a high priority and the zoo management remains in close contact with veterinary specialists from EAZA and other experienced zoos in order to detect any further infections in a timely manner.
The zoo has emphasized that there are currently no concerns about a new emergency, but the situation will continue to be monitored closely. The four remaining gorillas need time to process their losses, and the animals' visibility may be limited to accommodate their psychological needs.