A young gorilla at the Calgary Zoo has died. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo announced a member of its western lowland gorilla troop passed away unexpectedly, in a news release Tuesday.
Zoo officials confirmed two-year-old female Eyare was injured on Tuesday while moving between back of house spaces. Despite the zoo’s care and vet team’s efforts to save her, she died as a result of her injuries.
“Her passing will leave an immense hole in the hearts of our organization and our community,” Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, health and welfare. “Eyare will be remembered for her playful, curious spirit. Her short, but impactful life brought unending joy to our lives, she will be deeply missed by all.”
The zoo said it will conduct a necropsy.
Baird said the gorillas move between spaces at the zoo behind the scenes daily, for various activities like training and feeding. Eyare was born at the zoo in 2022. The zoo said it is monitoring the other gorillas in the troop as they grieve the loss.
This is the third animal death announced in the past week, with the zoo sharing news of the deaths of two of its senior animals on Friday. Callie, an 18-year-old female Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, was euthanized last month due to “age-related degenerative changes” that were affecting her quality of life. The zoo also said goodbye to Wilbur, a wild boar in the Exploration Asia exhibit, who was also euthanized due to degenerative changes.
Eyare's Death Investigated
The zoo announced Eyare’s death in a news release, stating that the young gorilla was injured while being moved between back-of-house spaces. Despite the zoo’s veterinary team's best efforts to save Eyare, the gorilla ultimately died as a result of her injuries. Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, health, and welfare, said in a statement that the zoo’s team is “devastated” by the news and that Eyare will be “deeply missed by all.”
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will conduct a thorough investigation into Eyare’s death, including a necropsy, and will examine any potential changes to processes or infrastructure at the zoo that may have contributed to the tragedy. “We want to look at our facilities, our processes, and we’ll look at video footage and of course talk to the staff that were there,” Baird said.
Gorilla Troop Grieves
The zoo’s six-member gorilla troop consists of two males and four females. Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species. While the zoo’s staff is mourning the loss of Eyare, they are also keeping a close eye on the troop as they grieve. “The gorilla team will be supporting the troop as they grieve, and we will be supporting the zoo team as they grieve in the days and weeks to come,” Baird said. “Saying goodbye to the animals we love and care for is never easy, but it’s especially so when it’s unexpected.”
Recent Animal Deaths at the Calgary Zoo
This is the latest in a series of animal deaths at the Calgary Zoo in recent months, including the drowning of seven-year-old polar bear Baffin in July and the death of 20-year-old mandrill monkey Yusufu earlier this year. Baffin drowned after being injured during rough play with another polar bear, and Yusufu died due to complications from surgery.
While the zoo says it is taking Eyare’s death seriously, the zoo’s team is moving forward and is working to understand what happened and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
Moving Forward
The zoo’s African Rainforest building will be closed for the remainder of the day as the zoo’s team continues to investigate Eyare’s death. While the zoo’s staff is saddened by the loss of Eyare, they are committed to continuing to provide a safe and enriching environment for all the animals in their care.
A Lasting Legacy
Eyare’s short life brought joy to many at the zoo. Despite her brief time on Earth, she will be remembered for her playful spirit and her unique personality. The zoo’s team will continue to cherish the memories of Eyare, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
