Feb 21, 2008 4:05 pm US/Eastern
Check It Out, Gorilla Gets A Checkup
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
-
-
"J.J.", the gorilla, 26 years old, undergoes his physical at Miami's Metrozoo
CBS
At 28 years old, he's politely called "J.J." and weighs 400 pounds. He's a Silverback gorilla at Miami's Metrozoo, who underwent an extensive annual physical exam on Thursday.
Ron Magill of Metrozoo explained, "If he's feeling bad, he can't report it like humans. Being an animal of the wild, he naturally would try to disguise it."
Metrozoo's adult male lowland gorilla, "J.J." was immobilized as he underwent an extensive annual physical exam that included taking blood samples, blood pressure, X-rays, and teeth cleaning. In addition, the 400-pound great ape was examined by a human cardiologist, and also had an ultrasound exam. The entire procedure was supervised by Metrozoo chief veterinarian, Dr. Chriss Miller and associate veterinarian Dr. Frank Ridgley, who said, he found "no abnormalities".
In addition to being part of an overall preventive medicine program, all of the procedures being done were part of a long term study designed to better understand ongoing problems that "J.J." has had with hypertension and will include and echocardiogram and electrocardiogram.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
