Human error to blame for death of young Calgary Zoo gorilla, officials say

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo says a two-year-old gorilla died last week due to an accident caused by human error.

Eyare, a western lowland gorilla died at the zoo on Nov. 12.

“Eyare was moving around in the back of house, roaming from bedroom to bedroom interacting with the other gorillas,” explained Director of Animal Care, Health and Welfare, Colleen Baird on Wednesday. “ A member of her care team intended to activate a door to separate Eyare from other members of the troop for an individual animal training session but mistakenly activated the wrong door, resulting in Eyare being struck by the door and sustaining traumatic head injuries.

“The gorilla team retrieved Eyare from the troop and the veterinary team immediately commenced lifesaving measures, including CPR. Sadly, Eyare succumbed to her injuries.”

Eyare was born at the zoo in 2022, the first offspring to gorillas Jasiri and Dossi.

A formal investigation has been launched into the young animal’s death, the zoo says, alongside new corrective and preventative practices.

In addition to existing training processes, and policy requirements, the zoo says the gorilla care team will now take specialized, recurrent training every year to make sure they can proficiently operate the hydraulic doors.

“While the investigation into the cause of death has concluded, the zoo doesn’t take these findings lightly and is continuing to conduct a thorough review to identify any potential opportunities to enhance staff training, improve animal care processes, and reinforce safeguards moving forward,” the zoo adds.

This will included enhanced safeguards and new animal behaviour training to make sure gorillas are trained to maintain a safe distance from doors when they are opening and closing.

Officials are also reassessing control lever locations and design and will make changes that will improve staff’s ability to confirm — both by touch and sight — what door they are moving.

Hydraulic doors are commonplace in accredited zoos, but the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo says it is exploring the possibility of moving to different door and control designs to enhance overall safety and improve staff confidence.

Immediately following the incident, the employee involved was removed from the workplace, according to the zoo. Before they come back to work with animals, they will be reassigned to a different area of the zoo and undergo further training.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” said Baird. “Eyare’s short but impactful life brought so much joy to our community, and she will be deeply missed by all. We will do everything we can to prevent future incidents.”

The zoo says human error is responsible for just two animal deaths at the zoo in recent years.

In 2016 a 12-year-old otter died after being given a pair of pants by two employees. The animal became tangled in the clothing and drowned.

However, Eyare’s death isn’t the first time a hydraulic door mishap has proved fatal — in 2009, a female capybara at the zoo died after being crushed in a hydraulic door.

The gorilla troop at the zoo is now made up of six gorillas, the newest of which is Okabe, born last May.

Latest in line of unexpected zoo animal deaths

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has faced multiple tragic animal deaths this year.

In July, seven-year-old polar bear Baffin drowned after playing rough with his mate, losing consciousness underwater, and not resurfacing.

In April, Yusufu, a 20-year-old mandrill monkey, died following complications from emergency abdominal surgery.

In May of last year, one of the zoo’s Masai giraffes, Emara, died after tangling one of her horns in a cable surrounding her enclosure.

Wildlife protection charity calls for deep-dive into zoo

Zoocheck, a Canadian-based international wildlife protection charity that works to promote and protect the interests and well-being of wild animals, calls the incident unfortunate.

“While accidents do happen, ultimately it is the responsibility of the zoo to fully protect the animals they keep, especially from risks that the animals have no understanding of or control over,” a representative told CityNews.

Though the organization says the steps taken to investigate the incident and the consideration of alternative doors and switches, and more staff training are good steps, but more needs to be done.

“… this incident, along with other mishaps and deaths at the zoo, should initiate a deeper dive review of the facility,” Zoocheck said. “I expect Eyere’s death will generate a lot of concern and questions from the public about whether keeping gorillas in Calgary really does serve any kind of useful purpose.”