Tinga, a 19-year-old female gorilla at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, has passed away, the park said this morning.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Tinga, a 19-year-old female western lowland gorilla at Busch Gardens," said Busch Gardens in a social media post Monday morning. "Tinga's health rapidly declined after a short illness during which she was closely monitored by her dedicated care team and veterinary staff."
The theme park says Tinga was a "guest favorite," and "enjoyed showing off her climbing skills and playfulness with the other members of the troop."
No exact cause of death was announced.
Tinga was a relatively new gorilla at the Busch Gardens troop, according to the Gorillas Land database. Born in captivity at the Denver Zoo in 2005, Tinga arrived at Busch Gardens in January of this year in an exchange with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
"While our hearts are broken by the loss of Tinga, the well-being of the rest of the troop is now our primary focus," continued Busch Gardens. "Our animal care staff continues to monitor the troop during this difficult time of adjustment."
Tinga leaves behind one offspring, Whimsey Adepa, a female who was born in 2016 at the Denver Zoo and is currently residing at Busch Gardens.
Native to the Congo Basin, western lowland gorillas are considered to be critical endangered, according to the Smithsonian Institute. The species often live to 30 or 40 years in the wild, and have been documented living well into their 50s while captivity.
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"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Tinga, a 19-year-old female western lowland gorilla at Busch Gardens," said Busch Gardens in a social media post Monday morning. "Tinga's health rapidly declined after a short illness during which she was closely monitored by her dedicated care team and veterinary staff."
The theme park says Tinga was a "guest favorite," and "enjoyed showing off her climbing skills and playfulness with the other members of the troop."
No exact cause of death was announced.
Tinga was a relatively new gorilla at the Busch Gardens troop, according to the Gorillas Land database. Born in captivity at the Denver Zoo in 2005, Tinga arrived at Busch Gardens in January of this year in an exchange with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
"While our hearts are broken by the loss of Tinga, the well-being of the rest of the troop is now our primary focus," continued Busch Gardens. "Our animal care staff continues to monitor the troop during this difficult time of adjustment."
Tinga leaves behind one offspring, Whimsey Adepa, a female who was born in 2016 at the Denver Zoo and is currently residing at Busch Gardens.
Native to the Congo Basin, western lowland gorillas are considered to be critical endangered, according to the Smithsonian Institute. The species often live to 30 or 40 years in the wild, and have been documented living well into their 50s while captivity.
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