Gorilla is tested for COVID-19 after fight with brother
Shango is treated on Wednesday for wounds he sustained during a fight with his brother.
Shango had a fight with his brother Barney.
This probably wouldn’t be a big deal if they weren’t gorillas at Zoo Miami.
So how do you treat a gorilla that has been injured in a fight?
To start, you immobilize it.
On Wednesday, the 31-year-old, 433-pound ape was given anesthesia before a team of animal health specialists cleaned his wounds.
And since he was out, the staff gave him a full exam, including a COVID-19 test. Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said “in an abundance of caution,” the test was given because Shango had a low-grade fever. It came back negative. Shango and Barney, who were both born at the San Francisco Zoo, came to
Zoo Miami in May 2017.
Magill said conflicts between male gorillas are common.
“However, most consist of a lot of posturing and rarely result in serious injury,” Magill said in a statement. “Unfortunately, there was some actual physical contact during the last confrontation between the two brothers that resulted in bite wounds.”
Magill said most of the injuries would not have required immobilization, but Shango became “very protective of the arm where the most serious bite occurred and his behavior indicated to the staff that closer examination was warranted.”
It did not appear that Shango would have permanent damage because of the wounds, Magill said.
After the procedure, Shango returned to his habitat.
“No decision has been made on when Shango will be reintroduced to Barney as that will depend on behavioral assessments made by the staff combined with the healing progress of his injuries,” Magill said.