Famous Dutch gorilla Bokito passes away in Rotterdam Zoo

Bokito, the gorilla that made world news in 2007, passed away unexpectedly at Diergaarde Blijdorp last Tuesday. 

According to Het Parool, Bokito already didn’t look well last Sunday. The zoo kept a close eye on him and inspected his faeces on Monday, but he still hadn’t improved by Tuesday.

Wanting to take a closer look at him and give him extra fluids, the zoo decided to put him under anaesthesia to make it easier. 

Unfortunately, Bokito died during the anaesthesia, and it is still unclear how this happened.

Bokito’s escape from the zoo

On the zoo’s 125th anniversary in 2007, Bokito escaped from his enclosure. 

The gorilla frightened many of the zoo visitors and seriously injured a 57-year-old woman. She suffered many broken bones and dozens of bites on her arms and legs. 

Young Bokito gone too soon

Bokito, aged 27, died at a fairly young age for a gorilla. Most gorillas live to the age of around 40 years in the wild and 50 years in captivity. Bokito’s death is being investigated.

The gorilla was born on March 14, 1996, in a zoo in Berlin. He came to the zoo in Blijdorp in 2005 as part of a breeding programme, where he had ten offspring. Bokito even had a foster son. This is unusual for gorillas — Bokito was a pleasant surprise.

READ MORE | Dierentuinen: 10 best zoos in the Netherlands

Many are affected by the loss of Bokito. The gorilla group in Blijdorp and his caretakers are upset over his death, the zoo tells Het Parool.

Stay up to date with all the news in the Netherlands by following DutchReview on Facebook.