On the heels of last week’s devastating loss of a beloved polar bear and giraffe, the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday announced that Maka, a 30-year-old Western lowland gorilla they called “the heart of our bachelor troop,” had died.
Maka died Monday after suffering an unexpected cardiac episode while undergoing a medical exam at the zoo veterinary hospital, zoo officials said. The gorilla had been experiencing “brief seizures,” and staff had been monitoring his health closely with ongoing evaluations, officials said in an Instagram post.
During his exam, he suffered cardiac arrest, and even though health and care teams provided “heroic and sustained efforts,” he could not be revived.
“In what stands as one of the most challenging periods in recent memory for our San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance family, we share with deep sorrow the passing of Maka… who left us this week surrounded by the wildlife care team who knew and loved him deeply,” the zoo said.
Maka, who was born at the zoo, had been diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities when he was 5 years old. Despite that, he had thrived under the “dedication and skill of his wildlife health and care teams, exceeding expectations and living with grace and vitality for decades,” the zoo said.
Maka was considered the leader of the bachelor troop and guided his younger brothers, Ekuba and Denny, with “patience and steadiness.” In the social media post, the zoo called him “a small-but-mighty leader” who served as a mentor to the younger apes.
After he died, his brothers were given time to spend time with Maka, officials said, calling it “a poignant moment that reminded us once again that connection and loss are universal languages.”
There are now two Western lowland gorillas at the zoo and 11 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in two troops. Zoo officials said gorillas in the wild typically live between 30 and 40 years, although those in captivity often live longer.
The death of the Maka comes just days after the zoo lost 24-year-old polar bear Kalluk, who had lived at the zoo since he was orphaned as a cub, and 28-year-old giraffe Nicky, who was said to be the oldest Masai giraffe in North America.
Kalluk was of an advanced age and suffering from kidney failure, and Nicky was showing signs of advanced age. Each was compassionately euthanized Thursday.
Kalluk and his sister Tatqiq came to the zoo in 2001 after researchers tracking their mother could no longer find her. The orphaned siblings moved in with Chinook, who also came to the San Diego Zoo as an orphaned cub in 1996. Nicky was the oldest giraffe in the zoo’s herd and had raised five calves.
The zoo said the death of the Maka comes during “an unimaginably difficult period” for zoo health and animal-care staffers who forge close bonds with the animals.
“Maka’s legacy lives on through the conservation work he helped advance and the countless guests who came to understand the intelligence and gentleness of Western lowland gorillas through knowing him,” the zoo said. “His quiet leadership and enduring spirit will always be remembered.”
The zoo’s Instagram post on Maka’s death prompted many supportive comments, including one from a person who said they were a zoo volunteer who “adored” Maka. The commenter went on to say: “He was smaller than his brothers, but majestically handsome. He will be missed by many. My heart goes out to all our amazing wildlife care specialists who have suffered losses this week. You are truly amazing humans.”