There was a splendid Christmas surprise for gorilla Vizazi and her carers at Antwerp Zoo: after almost a month, a plaster cast has been removed from her right leg. The cast was put on to protect a knee injury she sustained during an attack from a male gorilla. ‘The animal will make a full recovery,’ says chief veterinary surgeon Jonas Spruyt.
For visitors to Antwerp Zoo, it served as a major attraction during the past month: toddler gorilla Vizazi was seen jumping back and forth on the outdoor terrace with a plaster cast around her right hind leg, stretching from foot to groin. The cast was needed to protect an ugly wound the great ape sustained when a new silverback gorilla, i.e. a mature male, was introduced to the female gorillas.
Less than a month later, the knee wound has healed sufficiently for the plaster cast to be removed. ‘And that's less time than feared,’ says veterinarian Spruyt. ‘But for now, the time is not yet ripe for a new encounter with the silverback gorilla.’
Getting used to life without the cast
When the cast was removed from her leg, Vizazi had to get used to the new situation. ‘For the first 10 minutes, she kept walking with the same swaying motion as she did with the cast. It was quite funny to see,’ says Spruyt.