NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alejandra Gutierrez
Phone: (541) 514-7346
Email: asg@uoregon.edu
Oregon Zoo mourns passing of Kabibe
Portland, Oregon (Nov. 14, 2014) - On Tuesday night, an animal at the
Oregon Zoo was killed in a terrible accident. Six-month-old Western
gorilla, Kabibe, darted towards the closing hydraulic door of her night
quarters and was trapped. She tragically, did not survive.
We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, said Cindy Johnson,
executive director of the Oregon Zoo. Kabibe was one of our most
beloved animals and she will be missed by all of us here.
The Oregon Zoo puts the care and safety of its animals above all else.
The animals are always treated with the utmost care, and all staff
members are highly educated and trained on how to properly care for
the animals. Kabibes dash towards the closing door was unexpected,
and there was no way to stop the door.
Due to this accident, the Oregon Zoo will be closed until Monday, Nov.
24. The zoo is fully cooperating with authorities and will undergo a full
inspection to determine how this incident happened and what can be
done to prevent future accidents. In the meantime, the zoo will modify
its methods by which the animals are moved into their night quarters.
A gate will be added to the night quarters of the gorillas and the other
animals. The gate will be placed in front of the hydraulic doors in order
to create safety space between the animals as the doors are opening
and closing. These changes will be implemented immediately to secure
the safety and well being of all the animals.
Kabibe was born underweight and after her own mother rejected her,
the zoo staff raised her until she was six months old. The Oregon Zoo
decided to share Kabibes amazing story with the public and sure
enough, she captivated the hearts of Portlanders. Her fans helped pick
the perfect name for her, which means little lady in Swahili. The
Oregon Zoo appreciates all the love and support that fans gave Kabibe.
For more information about this incident please contact Alejandra
Gutierrez at (541) 514-7346.
About the Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo is located in Portland, Ore., and it is open 364 days of
the year, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It has five major exhibits: Great
Northwest, Fragile Forests, Asia, Pacific Shores and Africa, as well as 23
specialized exhibits within those five areas. The zoo is active in 21
Species Survival Plans, it has 2,955 animals (232 species), 22
endangered species, and 37 threatened species. The Oregon Zoo
foundation is an independent nonprofit that encourages donations in
order to create a better future for wildlife. Every year, the foundation
provides $3 million to enhance the zoos work in wildlife all around the
world.
For more information regarding the Oregon Zoo and how to help
preserve wildlife, go to www.oregonzoo.org.

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