Two female gorillas at the Toronto Zoo sustained injuries this week during the ongoing introduction of a new male silverback, the zoo has confirmed on social media.
On Tuesday, zookeepers observed that Nneka was favouring her right arm, while Charlie had a visible cut on her glute.
Both gorillas were assessed by the zoo’s veterinary team the same day.
“Charlie’s cut was deep enough to require stitches,” the zoo said in a statement posted to its Facebook page. Nneka also underwent X-rays and was treated for minor injuries to her lower back and left foot. Both gorillas are recovering.
A third female gorilla, Ngozi, remained unharmed.
The physical introductions between Zwalani, a Western lowland gorilla, and the zoo’s existing females, Ngozi, Nneka, and Charlie, began recently follow