In brief
A heartbreaking incident occurred at the Calgary Zoo when a 2-year-old western lowland gorilla named Eyare lost her life after being struck by a hydraulic door due to a staff member's mistake. On November 12, while interacting with other gorillas in her enclosure, Eyare was accidentally hit by a door that was meant to be activated for another purpose. Attempts to save her life were unsuccessful, prompting an investigation into the incident and subsequent safety training for staff.
Eyare, who was around 30 pounds, was in the process of being separated for a vaccination training session when the mishap happened. "A team member intended to activate a door that they were looking at, but accidentally used the control lever for a different door," explained Colleen Baird, the zoo's director of animal care. Wildlife teams immediately rushed to provide lifesaving efforts, but Eyare succumbed to her injuries shortly after.The staff member responsible for the oversight was described as devastated by the incident and has been temporarily removed from her duties. The individual, who was not new to the job and was familiar with the gorillas, will undergo further training before returning to zoo operations.This tragedy has called for a reevaluation of safety measures in animal handling and the protocols surrounding the management of hydraulic doors at animal facilities, as the zoo continues to care for Eyare's six companions.
