Wednesday, 7 July 2021, 1:24 pm
The Hamilton Zoo team has said a heartbreaking final
farewell to our much-loved chimpanzee Sally.
Zoo
Director Dr Baird Fleming, said Sally, whose 50th birthday
was celebrated in October last year, showed a rapid decline
in health at the weekend.
“Due to an
underlying heart condition, the primate and vet team have
always kept an eye on this precious girl,” said Dr
Fleming.
“Sally was a great patient and
regularly allowed her trusted caregivers to get images of
her heart. Over the weekend, for reasons unknown, Sally
stopped weight bearing on her right leg and on Monday she
Press Release – Hamilton City Council
The Hamilton Zoo team has said a heartbreaking final farewell to our much-loved chimpanzee Sally.
Zoo Director Dr Baird Fleming, said Sally, whose 50th birthday was celebrated in October last year, showed a rapid decline in health at the weekend.
“Due to an underlying heart condition, the primate and vet team have always kept an eye on this precious girl,” said Dr Fleming.
“Sally was a great patient and regularly allowed her trusted caregivers to get images of her heart. Over the weekend, for reasons unknown, Sally stopped weight bearing on her right leg and on Monday she showed signs of further decline, later refusing to move or engage with the rest of her troop or keepers – she seemed to be in significant pain.”
Zoo Director Dr Baird
Fleming and Mayor Paula Southgate welcome the chimpanzee
troop back to their enclousure.
The chimpanzee
area has been closed to the public since work began in
February 2020. Construction was delayed during COVID-19
lockdown, but the chimps were introduced to their new
upgraded outdoor enclosure in mid-December.
Zoo
Director Dr Baird Fleming says the chimps coped well with
the change, so well that Sanda – already mother to
four-year-old Chiku – gave birth to her second daughter
just 24 hours after the chimps were given access to their
new space.
“Sanda’s successful conception and
pregnancy while the troop was off display, and the birth