During this week’s exam, Maka experienced an unexpected cardiac arrest and passed away, despite the efforts of the zoo’s wildlife health and care teams.
SAN DIEGO — Maka, a 30-year-old Western lowland gorilla at the San Diego Zoo, died this week. He was surrounded by the wildlife care team, who knew and loved him deeply, the zoo shared in a social media post on Tuesday.
Despite being diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities at the age of 5, Maka “thrived under the dedication and skill of his wildlife health and care teams, exceeding expectations and living with grace and vitality for decades,” the San Diego Zoo said.
Recently, he experienced brief seizures, prompting the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team to monitor his wellness and schedule continuous comprehensive evaluations. During this week’s exam, the zoo said the Western lowland gorilla experienced an unexpected cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of the zoo’s wildlife health and care teams, Maka passed away, according to the organization.
“Each of the over 12,000 wildlife at the San Diego Zoo touches our lives in immeasurable ways, and this has been an unimaginably difficult period for our wildlife health and care teams, who forge profound bonds with each individual in their care,” the San Diego Zoo said. “We ask for your continued support and understanding as they navigate the complex journey of grief while maintaining their unwavering commitment to all the wildlife under their stewardship.”
In its Facebook post, the zoo recalled Maka as “truly the heart of our bachelor troop.” Born at the San Diego Zoo, he guided his younger brothers, Ekuba and Denny, with patience and steadiness. Described as a “small-but-mighty leader,” he naturally took the role of mentor and earned his siblings’ respect and devotion. His brothers were able to spend time with Maka after his passing.
‘Maka’s legacy lives on through the conservation work he helped advance and the countless guests who came to understand the intelligence and gentleness of Western lowland gorillas through knowing him,” the San Diego Zoo said. “His quiet leadership and enduring spirit will always be remembered.”