Days after two long-time residents were put to death by personnel, the San Diego Zoo reported on Wednesday that Maka, a 30-year-old Western lowland gorilla, had passed away.
Despite having chromosomal defects since he was five years old, Maka has managed to lead a comparatively healthy and contented existence, “exceeding expectations and living with grace and vitality for decades,” according to a social media statement released by the zoo on Tuesday. But according to zookeepers, the primate had been having seizures lately and died on Monday after suffering cardiac arrest during a routine examination.
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Born at the San Diego Zoo, the gorilla was “the heart” of the zoo’s bachelor troop. He was a mentor and guide to his younger brothers, Denny and Ekuba, who were allowed to spend time with Maka after his death.
The San Diego Zoo’s wildlife care staff killed a 24-year-old polar bear named Kalluk and a 28-year-old Masai giraffe named Nicky in a matter of days. Zoo officials are describing this as “one of the most challenging periods in recent memory for our San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance family.”
“Each of the over 12,000 wildlife at the San Diego Zoo touches our lives in immeasurable ways, and this has been an unimaginably difficult period for our wildlife health and care teams in particular, who forge profound bonds with each individual in their care,” the statement said. “We ask for your continued support and understanding as they navigate the complex journey of grief while maintaining their unwavering commitment to all the wildlife under their stewardship.”
Before she passed away, Nicky’s health had been deteriorating. Arriving in San Diego in 1999, she was the oldest of her kind in North America. Native to East Africa, Masai giraffes have a lifespan of about 30 years in both the wild and in captivity. Nicky raised five calves, including her son Chifu, who gave birth to her grandson Madoadoa last month, making Nicky a grandmother.
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In 2001, Kalluk arrived in San Diego with three polar bears, Chinook, his sister Tatqiq, and two younger cubs, all of whom were orphans. After the age of 18, most polar bears in the wild do not survive for long. At the age of 24, Kalluk began exhibiting symptoms of “age-related illness,” which led to his euthanasia. According to the zoo, Tatqiq and Chinook were also given the chance to say goodbye following Kalluk’s passing.
