Zurich Zoo's Beloved Gorilla NGola Euthanized After Years of Health Issues

A beloved gorilla at the Zurich Zoo, known as NGola, was euthanised after battling health issues for years, a zoo official announced. NGola, aged 47, was one of the oldest male gorillas in European zoos. He belonged to the Western lowland gorilla subspecies, which is critically endangered. Due to his age, he was a silverback, characterised by grey hair on his back.

NGola faced numerous health challenges, including arthritis, a heart condition, and a tapeworm infection. Over the years, he had been on pain medication and experienced weight and muscle loss due to reduced appetite. "It's a hard decision to euthanize a silverback," said Zurich Zoo director Severin Dressen.

Gorilla Population Decline

Dressen highlighted the drastic decline in wild gorilla populations, noting an 80% drop over three generations. He emphasised that zoos play a crucial role in research and educating the public about species conservation. NGola's life in captivity contributed to these efforts by raising awareness about the plight of gorillas.

Born in captivity, NGola fathered 34 offspring and was known for his gentle nature. Dressen mentioned how NGola cared for his group of females. In 2012, one of his females, Nache, died from a burst appendix during pregnancy along with her unborn baby. NGola mourned her loss for weeks.

NGola's Unique Behaviour

NGola displayed unusual behaviour for a silverback when he cared for an orphaned baby gorilla in his group. "The mother wasn't there, and he kind of — which is not a typical silverback behaviour — took care of that baby," Dressen recalled. This nurturing side made him stand out among other gorillas.

Despite his interactions with fellow gorillas, NGola largely ignored humans visiting the zoo. Dressen noted that NGola paid little attention to "other bipedal species on the other side of the glass" of his enclosure. This behaviour was typical for him throughout his life at the zoo.

NGola's passing marks the end of an era at Zurich Zoo. His life and actions have left a lasting impact on both visitors and staff. The zoo continues its commitment to conservation and education efforts inspired by animals like NGola.