Two-year-old gorilla dies unexpectedly at Calgary Zoo

On November 13, 2024By Littum

The Calgary Zoo has announced a member of its western lowland gorilla population has passed away unexpectedly.

The zoo says two-year-old Eyare died during a move between rooms in the back of the house in the gorilla enclosure on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

A zoo spokesman says it is common for the gorillas to move between different enclosures for exercise and other purposes.

Eyare was born at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on April 20, 2022.

She was the half-sister of the zoo’s other young gorilla, one-year-old Okabe.

Both were offspring of the zoo’s silverback gorilla, Jasiri.

We’ve got something sweet for your Sunday – gorilla playtime!

There is nothing better than watching the male western lowland gorilla ‘Okabe’ play with his big half-sister ‘Eyare’! #YourZooYYC pic.twitter.com/QFebCKVrzm

— Calgary Zoo (@calgaryzoo) 10 November 2024

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After the young gorilla’s death, the zoo remains home to six western lowland gorillas, including:

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Yewande, a 16-year-old female ho was born at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on May 15, 2008.
Jasiri, a 26-year-old male silverback who was born at Zoo Atlanta on June 21, 1998 and arrived in Calgary in June 2019 from Zoo Atlanta.
Zuri, a 27-year-old female, born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park on December 31, 1996 and came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on April 26, 2001.
Kioja, a 23-year-old female, born at the Bronx Zoo on January 24, 2001 and came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on May 21, 2009.
Dossi, a 23-year-old female, born at the Bronx Zoo on February 4, 2001 and came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on May 21, 2009.
Okabe, 1-year-old male, born at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on May 24, 2023.

According to the zoo’s website, western lowland gorillas are the smallest of the gorilla species, standing between 1.2 and 1.5 meters tall and weighing between 68 and 181 kilograms.

They are considered a critically endangered species native to the tropical rainforests of central and western Africa.

They live together in close family groups, a gorilla troop is led by a dominant male called a silverback, who has a saddle of silver hair on the small of his back.

More to come….