In brief
A Calgary Zoo gorilla named Eyare, just two years old, tragically lost her life due to a mishap involving a hydraulic door, prompting a review of safety measures.
On November 12, a young western lowland gorilla, Eyare, tragically died at the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada, after being struck by a hydraulic door. Eyare was just two years old and had been interacting with her gorilla group when the incident occurred. The staff member responsible for the door had mistakenly activated it while attempting to separate Eyare for a vaccination training session.Colleen Baird, the zoo's director of animal care, explained that the staff member meant to operate one door but inadvertently controlled another, resulting in the door closing while Eyare was passing through. Despite immediate efforts for lifesaving measures, Eyare was pronounced dead shortly after 9:30 a.m.The staff member, who was not new and had experience working with gorillas, was reportedly devastated by the incident and has since been removed from the area while undergoing further training before returning to work. The zoo is home to six other western lowland gorillas, and staff are taking this incident seriously to ensure such a tragedy does not happen again. The community has expressed deep sorrow over Eyare's loss, emphasizing the need for stringent safety protocols to protect both animals and staff at the zoo.
