Sacramento Zoo's Resident Gibbon Dies at 38

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The Sacramento Zoo announced the death of Siidam, a 38-year-old white-handed gibbon who had lived at the zoo her entire life. Siidam was euthanized on March 2 after zoo officials determined she was suffering from severe liver disease and her condition had declined despite intensive veterinary care.

Why it matters

White-handed gibbons are an endangered primate species native to Southeast Asia, so the loss of a long-term resident like Siidam is significant for the Sacramento Zoo's conservation efforts. Her death also highlights the challenges of caring for aging animals in captivity.

The details

Siidam was born at the Sacramento Zoo and had lived there for all 38 years of her life. Zoo officials said they began noticing signs of illness in Siidam last week and brought her to the veterinary hospital, where she was diagnosed with severe liver disease. Despite intensive treatment, Siidam's condition continued to deteriorate, leading the zoo to make the difficult decision to euthanize her on March 2.

• Siidam began showing signs of illness last week.
• Siidam was diagnosed with severe liver disease and brought to the zoo's veterinary hospital.
• On March 2, the Sacramento Zoo made the decision to humanely euthanize Siidam.