In brief
Eyare, a two-year-old western lowland gorilla, died at the Calgary Zoo following a fatal mishap involving a hydraulic door. Zoo officials confirm the death resulted from an accidental activation by a staff member during a routine procedure.
The Calgary Zoo is in mourning after the untimely death of Eyare, a two-year-old western lowland gorilla, who sustained traumatic injuries when a hydraulic door struck her on November 12. Eyare, the offspring of gorillas at the facility, had been playing with other gorillas when a staff member mistakenly activated a door while trying to separate her for a vaccination training session.According to Colleen Baird, the zoo’s director of animal care, the accident occurred as the staff member aimed to use a control for another door. As Eyare was passing through, the door closed, resulting in the tragic mishap. Immediate lifesaving efforts were made, but Eyare passed away shortly after 9:30 a.m.Baird expressed her condolences, noting that the staff member was significantly affected by the incident. The employee, who was not new to the job and had experience working with gorillas, will undergo further training before returning to that area of the zoo, which is home to six other western lowland gorillas.
