Ewell, the white-handed gibbon, was euthanized last Thursday.
Sacramento Zoo
The Sacramento Zoo announced the passing of a 54-year-old male gibbon in a Facebook post on Monday afternoon.
His death is the second gibbon at the Sacramento Zoo in March.
Ewell, the white-handed gibbon, was euthanized last Thursday. He had been at zoo since 1976. The gibbon had lived 14 years above the average life expectancy of his species, according to the post.
In fact, the Sacramento Zoo said he was the “oldest male, white-handed gibbon” in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums institution globally.
Ewell, the white-handed gibbon, had been at zoo since 1976. Sacramento Zoo
He was already under close observation for several age-related health conditions including arthritis and declining vision over several years, according to the Facebook post. Staff were keeping a special eye on his wellbeing after the of his daughter, Siidam.
“The combination of these, and other factors led to our team making the decision to humanely euthanize Ewell on March 19,” the Facebook post said.
Ewell’s daughter was 38 years old when she was euthanized in early March. Her health had declined due to severe liver disease, according to Fox40.
“This is a significant loss to the zoo,” the zoo said. “Ewell, and Siidam before him, will be missed by the countless lives they touched in their time here at the Sacramento Zoo, especially those who worked with them.”
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Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado is a service journalism reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked at the Star Democrat in Annapolis, Maryland. Veronica graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in journalism.