A silverback gorilla died at Dallas zoo Friday.
Dallas zoo officials say Subira,24 had recently developed a cough and then it was later determined that he died from cardiovascular disease.
The zoo released a statement saying “Heart disease is the number one cause of death for male gorillas, which is why our males receive regular wellness checks, including bimonthly heart rate tests as well as a more intensive ultrasound procedure every three years. We have also been working with the Great Ape Heart Project, based at Zoo Atlanta, for the last 10 years to stay at the forefront of causes, research, and preventative measures we can take when it comes to our great apes’ heart health. Subira’s last heart ultrasound was conducted in 2018 and showed no signs of heart disease, and his latest heart rate measurements had all been normal, which makes his passing all the more sudden and tragic.”
They also said they believe “Given his cough, we also were incredibly sensitive to concerns about COVID-19. The CDC has not received any reports of animals becoming ill from this disease, and we have no reason to believe that any of our animals are at risk. Out of an abundance of caution, we worked with local and state officials and were able to confirm earlier this week that Subira was NEGATIVE for novel coronavirus.”
