MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) — Two silverback gorilla siblings underwent a series of health exams Friday as they prepare to leave Zoo Miami later this month.
Barney, a 31-year-old gorilla weighing 415 pounds, and his older sibling, Shango, 36, who weighs 448 pounds, underwent comprehensive health evaluations. These assessments included general physical exams, blood tests, dental cleanings, tuberculosis screenings, cardiac ultrasounds, and vaccinations for rabies and tetanus, among other procedures.
The tests confirmed that both gorillas are in excellent health, which has cleared the way for their relocation to their new residence, the James and Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forest at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.
There, they will be part of the zoo’s inaugural bachelor troop, which refers to a group of young males who have departed their family troop or adult males who are yet to form their own group.
Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species facing threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and disease.
The brothers, Barney and Shango, came to Zoo Miami in May 2017 as part of an exhibit loan from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas.
Their departure at the end of May will allow for renovations to the great ape habitat at Zoo Miami to comply with updated Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulations.
Their leaving marks the first time in 40 years that gorillas will be absent from Zoo Miami, and they are expected to remain absent for the foreseeable future.
