The Tragic Loss of Gorillas Kio and Kibara at Leipzig Zoo, Unveiled
Zoo Leipzig faces a vacancy: Demise of Kio and Kibara leaves no question about their absence.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the Leipzig Zoo bid farewell to two of its beloved lowland gorillas, Kio and Kibara. The news sent shockwaves not just within the zoo community, but far beyond. But what really happened? Was it human error or an insidious pathogen?
Now, a few weeks later, the mystery surrounding their deaths has been unraveled.
The Revealed Causes of Their Demise: A Toxic Onslaught by Deadly Bacteria
At the tail end of March, the world learned of gorilla Kio's passing. The Leipzig Zoo and its staff were left in mourning. A week later, the unspeakable: Female gorilla Kibara's health took a turn for the worse and she succumbed as well (as we previously reported). Initially, veterinarians suspected intestinal failure in Kibara, while investigations on Kio were still ongoing.
Fast-forward to May 23rd, and there is no question about it. The post-mortem findings confirmed that the two gorillas died from sepsis, caused by highly contagious "E. coli bacteria" with toxin-producing capabilities, leading to severe intestinal damage. The Leipzig Zoo announced these findings publicly. In the aftermath, the zoo's priority shifted: Preventing the remaining gorillas from meeting a similar fate.
Leipzig Zoo: Facing Another Lay of Tragedy - "Shocked and Rattled"
The well-being of the remaining gorillas was a matter of great concern. The loss of their companions greatly affected them. Silverback Abeeku seemed out of sorts, deviating from his usual behaviors, and even female gorilla Kumili struggled to cope with the loss of Kio and Kibara, occasionally showing reduced appetite. Was she also infected?
Can the Rest Be Saved?
In the face of this threat, the zoo's doctors and keepers swiftly took action. This included providing alternative drinks, administering supplements to maintain a healthy intestinal flora, and the dedicated commitment of the keepers, who offered small, frequent meals throughout the day to the gorilla group. miraculously, their efforts seemed to pay off.
More updates:
"We are relieved that harmony has since returned to the four-member group, and we are now back to our regular feeding schedule," said zoo vet Dr. Bernhard. While psychological stress will certainly linger for the gorillas, having lost their companions, there appears to be no immediate cause for concern about another crisis at present.
In the aftermath of Kio and Kibara's deaths, the Leipzig Zoo focused on the well-being of the remaining gorillas, particularly given their emotional distress. The zoo's team took immediate steps to maintain their health, including providing alternative drinks, administering supplements, offering small, frequent meals, and ensuring a healthy intestinal flora. Although psychological stress will persist due to losing their companions, there are currently no signs of an immediate crisis for the remaining gorillas in the science of health-and-wellness, mental-health, and fitness-and-exercise contexts.
