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.”
“She seemed to be in significant pain,” Fleming said. After a thorough health check under general anaesthesia, it became clear “something new had arisen that was complicating her already fragile health. “After much discussion with the primate team, welfare committee and veterinarians,” the difficult decision was made. She was euthanised on Wednesday. A post-mortem examination should determine what caused Sally’s decline. Primate Keeper Rowena Fraioli said the team will miss her “happy dance and beautiful vocalisations” that greeted them every day. “She just loved people – children and older men particularly – she’d get extra excited if they had facial hair and would run over to see them,” she said.