The hand belonged to Yuska, the 48-year-old matriarch of Melbourne Zoo. RECENTLY I held the hand of an African western lowland gorilla. To see more great stories like this, subscribe today and get access to our quarterly magazine in print or digital, plus access to all back issues of Cosmos magazine. In 2019 Cosmos Editor at Large, Elizabeth Finkel wrote in a feature for Cosmos Magazine how a close encounter with Yuska inspired her to tell the story of the zoo which transformed itself around her into a conservation organisation. Her passing is a huge loss for Zoos Victoria’s community and Melbourne Zoo primate keepers both past and present who have cared for Yuska over many years.” “Yuska’s legacy to the conservation of the Critically Endangered Western Lowland Gorilla species is extraordinary – from becoming world-famous in 1984 when she gave birth to Mzuri through artificial insemination, to later becoming a grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother. These persistent health problems led Melbourne Zoo’s keepers and vets to determine that the kindest, most humane welfare decision for Yuska was euthanasia. “She experienced significant age-related health problems over many years, including dental issues, arthritis, a partial loss of eyesight and a series of recent minor strokes or seizures. The zoo reported her death in a post on Facebook. At 51, Yuska was one of the oldest known gorillas in the world. Zoos Victoria staff were heartbroken this week at the death of the much-loved matriarch Western Lowland Gorilla, Yuska.
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