A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014
An understanding of the main causes of mortality among captive gorillas is imperative to promoting their optimal care, health, and welfare. A retrospective observational review of mortality among the European zoo–housed western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) population from 2004 to 2014 w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40561/ |
| _version_ | 1848796086775316480 |
|---|---|
| author | Strong, Victoria Baiker, Kerstin Brennan, Marnie L. Redrobe, Sharon Rietkerk, Frank Cobb, Malcolm White, Kate |
| author_facet | Strong, Victoria Baiker, Kerstin Brennan, Marnie L. Redrobe, Sharon Rietkerk, Frank Cobb, Malcolm White, Kate |
| author_sort | Strong, Victoria |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | An understanding of the main causes of mortality among captive gorillas is imperative to promoting their optimal care, health, and welfare. A retrospective observational review of mortality among the European zoo–housed western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) population from 2004 to 2014 was carried out. This is the first published study of mortality in this population. Relevant postmortem data were requested from each collection reporting a death during the study period. Age at death enabled grouping into discrete age categories. Deaths were classified according to cause. The main causes of death overall and for each age category and sex were identified. In total, 151 gorillas from 50 European collections died during the study period. Postmortem data were available for 119 (79%) of the deaths, of which 102 (86%) were classified by cause. Diseases of the digestive system were responsible for most (23%) deaths overall. Also of significance (each accounting for 15% overall mortality) were deaths due to external causes (especially trauma) among young gorillas and cardiovascular disease among adult and aged animals. Being a male gorilla was associated with an 8.77- and 5.40-fold increase in risk of death due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, respectively. Death due to external causes was 4.45 times more likely among females than males. There was no statistically significant difference in life expectancy between male and female gorillas. The authors conclude that further work is needed to understand risk factors involved in the main causes of death and suggest a need for standardization with regard the approach to postmortem examination and data collection, sample collection, and storage across European zoos. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:42:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-40561 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:42:24Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | American Association of Zoo Veterinarians |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-405612020-05-04T18:53:34Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40561/ A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 Strong, Victoria Baiker, Kerstin Brennan, Marnie L. Redrobe, Sharon Rietkerk, Frank Cobb, Malcolm White, Kate An understanding of the main causes of mortality among captive gorillas is imperative to promoting their optimal care, health, and welfare. A retrospective observational review of mortality among the European zoo–housed western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) population from 2004 to 2014 was carried out. This is the first published study of mortality in this population. Relevant postmortem data were requested from each collection reporting a death during the study period. Age at death enabled grouping into discrete age categories. Deaths were classified according to cause. The main causes of death overall and for each age category and sex were identified. In total, 151 gorillas from 50 European collections died during the study period. Postmortem data were available for 119 (79%) of the deaths, of which 102 (86%) were classified by cause. Diseases of the digestive system were responsible for most (23%) deaths overall. Also of significance (each accounting for 15% overall mortality) were deaths due to external causes (especially trauma) among young gorillas and cardiovascular disease among adult and aged animals. Being a male gorilla was associated with an 8.77- and 5.40-fold increase in risk of death due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, respectively. Death due to external causes was 4.45 times more likely among females than males. There was no statistically significant difference in life expectancy between male and female gorillas. The authors conclude that further work is needed to understand risk factors involved in the main causes of death and suggest a need for standardization with regard the approach to postmortem examination and data collection, sample collection, and storage across European zoos. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 2017-06-30 Article PeerReviewed Strong, Victoria, Baiker, Kerstin, Brennan, Marnie L., Redrobe, Sharon, Rietkerk, Frank, Cobb, Malcolm and White, Kate (2017) A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 48 (2). pp. 277-286. ISSN 1937-2825 Gorilla Gastrointestinal Cardiovascular Captivity Epidemiology Mortality http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.1638/2016-0132R.1 doi:10.1638/2016-0132R.1 doi:10.1638/2016-0132R.1 |
| spellingShingle | Gorilla Gastrointestinal Cardiovascular Captivity Epidemiology Mortality Strong, Victoria Baiker, Kerstin Brennan, Marnie L. Redrobe, Sharon Rietkerk, Frank Cobb, Malcolm White, Kate A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| title | A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| title_full | A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| title_fullStr | A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| title_short | A retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in European zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| title_sort | retrospective review of western lowland gorilla (gorilla, gorilla, gorilla) mortality in european zoological collections between 2004 and 2014 |
| topic | Gorilla Gastrointestinal Cardiovascular Captivity Epidemiology Mortality |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40561/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40561/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/40561/ |