Baby gorilla dies after ‘human error’ accident at zoo

The tragic incident is the second human-caused fatality at the zoo

The accident occurred at Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo when an employee reportedly activated the wrong door inside the enclosure, fatally injuring two-year-old Western Lowland gorilla, Eyare.

The gorilla was moving around in the back of the enclosure, roaming from bedroom to bedroom, interacting with the other gorillas when the harrowing incident occurred.

Colleen Baird, Director of Animal Care, Health and Welfare at the Canadian zoo said: "A member of [Eyare's] care team intended to activate a door to separate Eyare from other members of the troop for an individual animal training session but mistakenly activated the wrong door, resulting in Eyare being struck by the door and sustaining traumatic head injuries."

The zoo's gorilla team immediately rushed to tend to the wounded gorilla and retrieve her from the habitat before the veterinary team took over.

The team performed lifesaving measures to keep the 2-year-old gorilla alive, including CPR. However, "sadly Eyare succumbed to her injuries," Baird said.

Following the heart-breaking incident the zoo launched a formal investigation and has shared preventative and corrective measures which it will enforce going forward.

The location of the door levers are also being reassessed as a direct result of the tragic accident.

The zoo also shared that the gorilla care team member directly involved in the accident was immediately removed from the workplace and will have to undergo further training before reassignment to another area of the zoo.

Baird added: "This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable.

"Eyare’s short but impactful life brought so much joy to our community, and she will be deeply missed by all. We will do everything we can to prevent future incidents."

It is the second human-caused animal fatality over the last ten years.

In 2016, a North American river otter drowned after becoming tangled in an 'unauthorised' pair of pants a zookeeper mistakenly dropped inside its enclosure.

The Wilder Institute-Calgary Zoo cares for over 4,000 animals, including six other western lowland gorillas, Jasiri, Zuri, Yewande, Kioja, Dossi, and Okabe.