Silverback gorilla receives health check at London Zoo
It took six people to lift Kiburi into a gurney to get him to the CT scanner.
A silverback gorilla has undergone a full health check, including a CT scan, on the orders of London Zoo’s veterinary team.
Twenty-one year old Kiburi, the ‘patriarch’ of the western lowland gorilla troop, had been under observations for gastrointestinal issues, before his veterinary team decided he should have a full medical check.
Ahead of his examination, the 177kg primate had to be anaesthetised with an injection to his upper arm. This required months of planning to achieve, with Kiburi trained by his zookeepers to offer his arm for the anaesthetic to be administered.
The full health check began with a cardiology examination, performed in the back dens of Kiburi’s Gorilla Kingdom habitat at London Zoo.
After this was completed, it was time for Kiburi to have a CT scan. It took six people to get the gorilla onto a gurney before, accompanied by a veterinary team, he was taken on a five-minute journey on a flatbed truck to the CT scanner.
The CT scanner, hired from Burgess Diagnostics Mobile CT Service, was brought into the Zoo in a 44-feet long truck.
The scan focused on Kiburi’s abdomen, revealing no obvious cause for concern. This diagnosis was supported by NHS doctors specialising in gastrointestinal health and imaging, who also provided assistance with the procedure.
Amanda Guthrie, head of wildlife health services at London Zoo, said: “We monitor all our animals very closely to ensure they’re getting the best care possible, so when we saw that Kiburi was having stomach issues, we wanted to make sure everything was working as it should.
“Thankfully, the silverback's initial test results have all come back as normal. Kiburi is back with his family at the Zoo’s Gorilla Kingdom habitat – including his two infant daughters, Juno and Venus.
“Having been able to get a closer look at how he’s doing, it’s good to see that these initial results show nothing of concern – and it helps us put together a monitoring plan so we can continue to make sure he feels his best.”
Image used with permission from London Zoo.
Copyright © London Zoo (ZSL)
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