Beloved Kansas City Zoo gorilla Curtis dead at 28
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Missouri zoo recently said goodbye to a beloved member of its family.
According to KMBC and KSHB, the Kansas City Zoo announced Monday that Curtis, a western lowland gorilla who came to the zoo in 2020, has died at age 28. Animal care specialists euthanized the primate, who suffered from congestive heart failure, on Oct. 1, the zoo wrote in a Facebook post.
Last year, Curtis received two blood transfusions from his brother, Charlie, after veterinarians discovered a hemorrhage in Curtis’ kidney, the news outlets reported. Crews performed a seven-hour surgery to remove the kidney, the zoo said.
“Curtis won the hearts of everyone that met him with his easy-going and inquisitive nature,” the zoo wrote on Facebook. “Even on days he didn’t feel his best, Curtis remained gentle and trusting of those trying to help him. While the entire zoo family mourns, we take comfort knowing the groundbreaking care Curtis received will help many other animals. Curtis gave his illness a great fight, and everything that was learned from his situation will be passed on to other facilities.”
