‘Beloved’ ape brothers die after Florida zoo loses gorilla to same infection
A pair of “beloved” ape brothers died after a Florida zoo lost a gorilla to the same infection.
Jumanji the “laid-back” bonobo and his mischievous brother, Jenga, died after experiencing past hardship, according to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
“Male bonobos remain with their mothers for life and rely heavily on them for protection and social status,” the zoo wrote Aug. 26 on Facebook. “When Jumanji’s mother passed away in 2018, he sweetly supported his younger brother Jenga with the adjustment.”
Meanwhile, Jenga is remembered for making history when he was born in 2011.
“He was the first bonobo birth that our animal care specialists were able to witness, since it occurred during the day instead of overnight,” the zoo wrote. “Jenga was a goofball that loved to play with others and cause a little mischief, but always put a smile on people’s faces.”
Jumanji and Jenga are bonobos, an endangered species that looks similar to chimpanzees. The animals live in “forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” where they face threats of habitat loss and poaching, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
The two brothers died from the shigella bacteria, which causes shigellosis. The digestive disease reportedly can lead to “symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and dehydration.”
“Both bonobos had existing heart conditions, which made them more vulnerable to shigella,” the zoo wrote. “As difficult as it is to lose Jumanji and Jenga, our animal health and care teams remain committed to doing everything possible to help the apes recover from this infection.”
Though the zoo on its website said it’s not sure how the infection started, it first impacted gorillas then spread to other apes. The wildlife park shared the news about the brothers’ death days after announcing the shigella-related loss of 35-year-old gorilla Bulera.
“Bulera was a sweet, loving mother and grandmother, but she also gave the kids room to be independent while she enjoyed some alone time,” a zoo spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email. “Her maternal spirit will be missed greatly by her caretakers and troop mates.”
This story was originally published August 27, 2024 at 10:21 AM with the headline "‘Beloved’ ape brothers die after Florida zoo loses gorilla to same infection."
