Article published October 21, 2009
Second animal dies at Toledo Zoo this week
BLADE STAFF
A second great ape at the Toledo Zoo has died within a week.
Both were well beyond their life expectancy.
The zoo announced Wednesday morning that Elaine, a 42-year-old female gorilla, died early Tuesday afternoon after having an intermittent dry cough and loss of appetite over the weekend. She also was trembling, lethargic, and had difficulty breathing.
A necropsy performed on Tuesday revealed abnormalities in the adrenal glands, kidneys and lungs. Further tests are pending to determine the significance of the lesions, the zoo said.
Officials were initially encouraged by her response to treatment. But she was "minimally responsive" on Tuesday morning and died during recovery after being immobilized for an examination, the zoo said.
Gorillas typically live 31 years in zoo settings. Only about 28 percent of those type of captive apes reach the age of 42. Elaine had been with the Toledo Zoo since 1991.
On Friday, a 49-year-old chimpanzee named Fifi died following a rapid decline in health. She had been at the Toledo Zoo since 1963.
A necropsy revealed possible blood vessel abnormalities in the brain, and further tests are pending to determine a cause of death.
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