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“Barney,” a 415-pound, 31-year-old silverback lowland gorilla, and his brother, “Shango,” a 448-pound, 36-year-old silverback, underwent a series of exams recently in preparation for their transfer to Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
In addition to the normal procedures which included blood collection, radiographs, and general physical, each gorilla received a dental cleaning, urine and fecal exam, a tuberculosis test, a cardiac ultrasound exam, and vaccines for rabies and tetanus.
The procedures were led by zoo associate veterinarians Dr. Marisa Bezjian and Dr. Nicholas Buscaglia while being overseen by chief of animal health Dr. Gwen Myers. They were assisted by human cardiologist and electrophysiologist Dr. Ken Zide along with his team sonographer Raquel McBean and cardiology fellow Dr. Kunal Lal. The exams went well, and both gorillas made a full recovery back in their habitat.
Initial indications are that the gorillas are in good health and are cleared to travel to their new home, the James and Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forest at Brookfield Zoo Chicago where they will be the first-ever bachelor troop displayed at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
Bachelor troops — made up of younger males who have left their family troop or adult males who haven’t formed one — are a natural and important part of gorilla life in the wild.
These social troops help foster critical skills and relationships, contributing to the well-being of the individuals and the species. Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered with habitat loss, poaching, and disease being their greatest threats.
Shango and Barney’s move to Brookfield Zoo Chicago plays an important role in ongoing efforts to protect and educate the public about this species through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). Zoo Miami also participates in the cell phone recycling program that contributes funding to gorilla conservation programs in the wild.
Barney and Shango were born at the San Francisco Zoo and arrived at Zoo Miami in May 2017 via the Sedwick County Zoo in Kansas as part of an exhibit loan. They will be leaving Zoo Miami at the end of May to allow for the renovation of the great ape habitat so that it complies with updated Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) regulations. For the first time in over 40 years, their departure will result in the absence of gorillas at Zoo Miami for the foreseeable future.
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