WELL, ED MARIA KATUMBI HAS BEEN HERE AT THE FRANKLIN PARK ZOO FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, BUT WHEN HIS HEALTH TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE, HIS CARE TEAM STEPPED IN RIGHT AWAY. AND TONIGHT, THEY’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO IF ANYTHING, TO HELP HIM, ESPECIALLY AS HE’S GOTTEN OLDER. HE’S GOTTEN QUIET. IN PHOTOS, 38 YEAR OLD KATUMBI, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS KIT, SITS PROUD AND STRONG. HE’S A SPECIAL GUY AND THIS IS AN EMOTIONALLY TOUGH TIME. THE WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA STARTED HAVING HEALTH ISSUES LIKE A CHRONIC COUGH, WEIGHT LOSS, AND TREMORS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. BUT WHEN THINGS TOOK A TURN YESTERDAY, HIS CARE TEAM STEPPED IN IMMEDIATELY. IT’S PRETTY DIRE. WE’RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW. TODAY, KIT’S DOCTORS ARE PUTTING HIM UNDER ANESTHESIA IN ORDER TO DO AN EXAM. ULTIMATELY, THEY’RE TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHETHER THERE’S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BRING HIM BACK. AND KIT IS MORE THAN JUST A STAPLE HERE AT THE ZOO. HE’S ACTUALLY HELPING PRESERVE HIS SPECIES. HE’S HAD FIVE KIDS HERE, AND IS REALLY A PART OF THE FAMILY. IT’S HIS FATHERING OF THOSE OFFSPRING THAT IS HELPING CONSERVE THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN VISITING WHILE HE’S SICK. THERE’S NO QUESTION THEY KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. AND HAVING THEM GO IN AND VISIT HIM KEEPS A BIT OF NORMALCY IN THEIR LIFE. AS THOSE WHO LOVE HIM MOST CARE FOR HIM NOW, THEY’RE HOPING HE’LL BE OKAY. JUST DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP HIM. NOW, KATUMBI’S MEDICAL TEAM SAYS PUTTING ANY SPECIES UNDER ANESTHESIA CAN BE DANGEROUS. BUT IN LIGHT OF KIT’S AGE, IT’S EVEN MORE RISKY AT THIS POINT, THE ZOO HASN’T PUT OUT ANY UPDATE ON HOW KATUMBI
Gorilla experiencing serious health issues at the Franklin Park Zoo has died
Updated: 8:45 PM EST Dec 5, 2024
A gorilla at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, who was experiencing serious health issues and underwent a medical examination on Thursday, has now died.Kitombe, the western lowland gorilla known by zoo staff as “Kit,” was 38 years old when he died Thursday evening at the zoo. The zoo said his care team had put him under anesthesia and was closely monitoring his quality of life since his condition worsened Wednesday.”The staff at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo is deeply saddened to share that Kitombe, a male western lowland gorilla, has passed away,” the zoo said in a statement Thursday evening.”Following a rapid decline in his health yesterday, the decision was made to perform a comprehensive exam today to try and determine the cause of his recent health issues, which included a chronic cough, loss of weight and muscle mass, increased lethargy and trembling,” the statement said. “While Kitombe had responded positively to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, the worsening of his condition necessitated the exam to better identify the cause of his current ailments and what, if any, options there were for treatment.”The zoo said Kitombe underwent chest radiographs, routine blood tests, a urinalysis, an echocardiogram by a consulting veterinary cardiologist, and electromyograms by a consulting veterinary neurologist before the decision was made to humanely euthanize him due to his poor prognosis and serious quality of life concerns.Doctors were hoping to pinpoint what was causing his symptoms during the medical examination Thursday.”Particularly in the last week or so when he’s been staying off exhibits, and they’ve been letting the family group go in and visit him,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England president and CEO. “But he’s been quite lethargic, and we’re deeply concerned.”Kitombe had also long been treated for glaucoma as well as heart disease, both of which are managed by medication.Cardiac disease is the biggest health issue affecting male gorillas in human care, the zoo said, which is why routine monitoring, proactive care and cardiac exams are so important.“While Kit had initially responded positively to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, the worsening of his condition requires a comprehensive exam to better identify the cause of his current ailments and what, if any, options are for treatment,” said Dr. Christopher Bonar, director of animal health at Zoo New England.“While the risks associated with anesthesia are extremely high for Kit, given his age and current health condition, the examination is critical.”Kitombe had resided at the Franklin Park Zoo since 1998 and was one of six gorillas at the zoo. He and his mate Kiki produced five offspring, including Kambiri, Aziza and Pablo, who live with their parents, the zoo said. Kiki and three of Kitombe’s offspring, along with another gorilla, had been able to visit him, coming and going from the exhibit.Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild, the zoo said. They are found in the countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Angola and Central African Republic and are divided into the Cross River and western lowland subspecies.Both are considered critically endangered, the zoo said. Threats to gorillas vary geographically, and western gorillas are primarily threatened by disease and the bushmeat trade.
A gorilla at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, who was experiencing serious health issues and underwent a medical examination on Thursday, has now died.
Kitombe, the western lowland gorilla known by zoo staff as “Kit,” was 38 years old when he died Thursday evening at the zoo. The zoo said his care team had put him under anesthesia and was closely monitoring his quality of life since his condition worsened Wednesday.
“The staff at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo is deeply saddened to share that Kitombe, a male western lowland gorilla, has passed away,” the zoo said in a statement Thursday evening.
“Following a rapid decline in his health yesterday, the decision was made to perform a comprehensive exam today to try and determine the cause of his recent health issues, which included a chronic cough, loss of weight and muscle mass, increased lethargy and trembling,” the statement said. “While Kitombe had responded positively to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, the worsening of his condition necessitated the exam to better identify the cause of his current ailments and what, if any, options there were for treatment.”
The zoo said Kitombe underwent chest radiographs, routine blood tests, a urinalysis, an echocardiogram by a consulting veterinary cardiologist, and electromyograms by a consulting veterinary neurologist before the decision was made to humanely euthanize him due to his poor prognosis and serious quality of life concerns.
Doctors were hoping to pinpoint what was causing his symptoms during the medical examination Thursday.
“Particularly in the last week or so when he’s been staying off exhibits, and they’ve been letting the family group go in and visit him,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England president and CEO. “But he’s been quite lethargic, and we’re deeply concerned.”
Kitombe had also long been treated for glaucoma as well as heart disease, both of which are managed by medication.
Cardiac disease is the biggest health issue affecting male gorillas in human care, the zoo said, which is why routine monitoring, proactive care and cardiac exams are so important.
“While Kit had initially responded positively to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, the worsening of his condition requires a comprehensive exam to better identify the cause of his current ailments and what, if any, options are for treatment,” said Dr. Christopher Bonar, director of animal health at Zoo New England.
“While the risks associated with anesthesia are extremely high for Kit, given his age and current health condition, the examination is critical.”
Kitombe had resided at the Franklin Park Zoo since 1998 and was one of six gorillas at the zoo. He and his mate Kiki produced five offspring, including Kambiri, Aziza and Pablo, who live with their parents, the zoo said.
Kiki and three of Kitombe’s offspring, along with another gorilla, had been able to visit him, coming and going from the exhibit.
Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild, the zoo said. They are found in the countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Angola and Central African Republic and are divided into the Cross River and western lowland subspecies.
Both are considered critically endangered, the zoo said. Threats to gorillas vary geographically, and western gorillas are primarily threatened by disease and the bushmeat trade.