Mopie, 34, dies at National Zoo

[northzax]

the Second silverback gorilla in three days to die.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/03/AR2006070301108.html

RIP Mopie, the Ape house won't be the same without you.

[displacedtexan]

1. This is so weird, don't you think?

Heart failure is common in large apes in captivity?

Who knew?

[northzax]

2. probably not that unusual

when you think about it, Apes are just like humans, the longer they live, the greater the chance that something like heart failure or cancer will kill them. Plus, I figure that apes in captivity probably don't get quite the exercise ones in the wild do, right?

[EarlG]

3. You also have to take the quality of the care into account...

Frist, at heart, is a doctor. At 5:45 a.m., before a recent Senate workday, he prepared for a quirky slice of surgery. During congressional breaks, Frist, 54, has been known to fly to Africa to operate. But in Washington, he has quietly cultivated another practice: gorillas at the National Zoo.

"These gorillas seem to develop heart disease," said Frist (R-Tenn.). "It's totally unknown. I did a lit search -- nothing. The fact that we're working on the edge of the unknown is fun."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052301380.html

[northzax]

4. good point

I had forgotten they let cat-killer Frist play.

[displacedtexan]

5. OK, that blast from the past scared the s*%t out of me.

I remember reading that now because it reminded me
of my orthodontist, who straightened a gorilla's
teeth during his internship back in the day.

How often are gorillas used for crap like this, anyway?

Jeez, no wonder they drop dead.

Sad.

[spooky3]

6. Please keep him far away from Tai Shan. Happy birthday!

[northzax]

7. oh, I'm sure there is something in the rental agreement

for Tai Shan that keeps Frist as far away from him as possible.