“Barney,” a 415-pound, 31-year-old silverback lowland gorilla, and his brother, “Shango,” a 448-pound, 36-year-old silverback, underwent a series of exams recently in preparation for their transfer to Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
In addition to the normal procedures which included blood collection, radiographs, and general physical, each gorilla received a dental cleaning, urine and fecal exam, a tuberculosis test, a cardiac ultrasound exam, and vaccines for rabies and tetanus.
The procedures were led by zoo associate veterinarians Dr. Marisa Bezjian and Dr. Nicholas Buscaglia while being overseen by chief of animal health Dr. Gwen Myers. They were assisted by human cardiologist and electrophysiologist Dr. Ken Zide along with his team sonographer Raquel McBean and cardiology fellow Dr. Kunal Lal. The exams went well, and both gorillas made a full recovery back in their habitat…