Sick Calgary gorilla shows improvement, but still in critical condition

Calgary Zoo officials say there are signs of improvement for the gorilla which had to have emergency surgery this week, but she still remains in critical condition.

Female 19-year-old Zuri is now taking some fluids and is being more responsive to staff after the procedure, but she’s still nauseous and isn’t taking solid food.

After a CT scan this week, it turns out she had a severe abdominal infection, prompting the surgery.

“She’s on around the clock monitoring,” said Dr. Doug Whiteside, the zoo’s senior staff veterinarian. “She still has us quite worried.”

She’s currently being held in a back bedroom area of the gorilla enclosure and getting multiple medications a day, some orally and others through injections.

Whiteside said the troop has certainly noticed, especially the silverback.

“He can look into the back and see Zuri, this morning, he actually came when she actually got up for the first time which is great,” he said. “They’re all keeping a very close eye, we keep seeing their heads peer around to look at her and they’re all quite worried about her, just as we are.”

He added this has also taken a toll on the staff.

“She’s a pretty special gorilla to us, she’s had some challenges in the early part of her life,” he said. “She’s a mother, not only a gorilla, so it’s particularly challenging for us, we’re all very, very worried, we’re all on edge.”

“We kind of pull together as a zoo team and we’re all hoping for the best.

No other gorillas are at risk.

The average lifespan for a female in captivity is around 40 years of age.