Elderly gibbon dies before going on view at SB Zoo

Raiza Giorgi — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 06:49:00 +0000

Staff Report

Nikko, a 35-year-old white-handed gibbon who had arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo from the Oakland Zoo less than a month earlier, died Dec. 16 from a previously unknown medical condition.

Dr. Julie Barnes, the zoo’s director of animal care and health, said that surgery or treatment would not have been effective even if his condition had been diagnosed within the prior weeks.

“This would have proved fatal, regardless,” she said. “We are so sad to have lost him so soon after his arrival, as he had already won everyone’s hearts.”

Nikko was to be a companion to the Santa Barbara Zoo’s elderly female gibbon Jasmine and her “adopted daughter” Jari, who is 4 years old.

Both Jasmine and Nikko had lost their mates of several decades, so they were matched by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Gibbons are social creatures and it was believed that this new “blended family” would benefit all three apes.

Nikko arrived in Santa Barbara on Nov. 27 and was in quarantine and had begun introductions to Jasmine and Jari.

On Dec. 10, keepers observed a decrease in appetite, but Nikko otherwise continued to exhibit normal behaviors. Over the next few days, staff became increasingly concerned as he continued to eat less.

“Taking into consideration all the changes in his life, we didn’t want to rush into anesthesia, which would be necessary in order to examine him,” Barnes said.

When he was found very weak in his holding area, he was transferred to the Animal Clinic.

“His blood and urine tests showed acute liver and renal failure,” Barnes said. “The radiographs and ultrasounds were inconclusive and it was proving difficult to get a diagnosis. … We arranged to have him seen by veterinary internal medicine specialists about 15 minutes away, where he could have a more advanced ultrasound examination.”

Nikko died en route.

A necropsy was performed at the zoo where a mass in the upper abdomen was detected, along with abnormalities of both kidneys and the liver. Cancer is suspected, pending further tests.

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Santa Barbara Zoo’s popular gibbon Gulliver passes away

Raiza Giorgi — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 22:00:50 +0000

Gulliver, an elderly white-handed gibbon who lived his entire life at the Santa Barbara Zoo, passed away July 19, after a brief illness. He would have turned 40 years old next week, on July 28.

“Gulliver has been a part of the Santa Barbara Zoo family for nearly four decades,” said Zoo Director Nancy McToldridge. “I have known and loved him for 34 of those years. During his life, Gulliver inspired millions of people to care about wild creatures in wild places. It is always hard to lose any animal, especially for the people who care for them on a daily basis. He will be missed.”

Gulliver was born at the Zoo on July 28, 1976 to parents Charlie and Goldie. His longtime mate, Jasmine, arrived at the Zoo in October 1979 and the two produced five offspring, starting in 1987. Two are still living: Riley, born in 2000, currently at the Indianapolis Zoo; and Elliot, born in 2002, who is at the Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City). The pair has many grandchildren, and have five great- grandchildren.

“At age 40, Gulliver was definitely a senior citizen, but he remained healthy and active until the end, and delighted our guests,” added McToldridge.

Gulliver and Jasmine lived on Gibbon Island, adjacent to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, and were popular among Zoo guests for their arboreal aeronautics, often swinging on ropes and climbing trees. Their loud “whooping” calls could be heard throughout the Zoo. Gulliver had dark fur, and Jasmine’s is tan, but fur color in gibbons is determined by genetics and not an animal’s sex. They have been admired by children and folks of all ages in the Santa Ynez Valley who frequent the zoo for school field trips and family outings, as well as other Santa Barbara County residents and tourists.

Jasmine remains on exhibit at the Zoo, and her future plans depend on the needs of Species Survival Plan (SSP) for white-handed gibbons. Zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) manage species collaboratively, and many factors are taken into account in determining placement of individual animals.

In 2015, Gulliver and Jasmine selected the ingredients to be used in the signature beers for the Zoo’s popular benefit, Zoo Brew (www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5-Gc83NrN8). The resulting Jasmine’s Dry Wit and Gulliver’s Coconut Porter were especially brewed by Pete Johnson at The Brewhouse and enjoyed by hundreds of event attendees on June 6, 2015.

Santa Barbara Zoo located at 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. For more information log onto www.sbzoo.org.

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Elderly gibbon dies before going on view at SB Zoo

Santa Barbara Zoo’s popular gibbon Gulliver passes away