JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A highly contagious bacterial illness has claimed two beloved brother bonobos at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, days after a popular female western lowland gorilla died of the same disease.
Bonobos Jumanji and Jenga were among many members of the zoo's ape and gorilla populations showing symptoms of shigella, a bacteria that causes shigellosis and typically spreads through feces, food or water.
Jumanji was born in 1996 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park and moved to the Jacksonville zoo in 2008 with his parents and sister. Jenga was born there in 2011.
Jumani was "a sweet and gentle soul, a laid-back kind of guy who was friendly to all other bonobos," according to the zoo's Facebook post that announced the latest deaths. "Male bonobos remain with their mothers for life and rely heavily on them for protection and social status. When Jumanji's mother passed away in 2018, he sweetly supported his younger brother Jenga with the adjustment."
Jenga was the first bonobo birth that local animal care specialists witnessed because it occurred in the daytime. He was "a goofball that loved to play with others and cause a little mischief, but always put a smile on people's faces," according to the zoo.
The ill animals are quarantined to avoid danger to guests. Symptoms of the shigella include diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and dehydration and can be severe in apes, "as they may have a harder time fighting off the bacteria," according to the zoo. "Both bonobos had existing heart conditions, which made them more vulnerable to shigella."
Though mourning the deaths, the zoo's animal health and care teams "remain committed to doing everything possible to help the apes recover from this infection," according to the zoo.
"While many of the apes are at various stages of treatment and recovery, thanks to our team's hard work and resilience, we've seen significant progress. This infection may have periods of improvement and relapse, so we continue to closely monitor the situation," according to the zoo.
