 Des Moines, Iowa – A great loss has been felt by the scientists, staff and bonobos of Great Ape Trust. P-Suke, a bonobo whose name meant ‘little gentleman’ in Japanese, died July 7 at The Trust while under anesthesia in preparation for surgery for an inguinal hernia.
“We expected to share the results of a medical procedure unique in the history of the world,” said Ted Townsend, founder of Great Ape Trust. “Unfortunately, we must report a great sadness.”
A multidisciplinary team of physicians and veterinarians placed P-Suke, age 27, under anesthesia in the Great Ape Trust bonobo home at approximately 10:30 a.m. CDT. At 10:45 a.m. he was transferred less than two miles to Avondale Animal Clinic at 4318 Army Post Road in Des Moines for dental x-rays. That procedure was successfully completed at 11:15 a.m. – he was then prepared by the health care team for transfer to Des Moines University for laparoscopic surgery to repair an inguinal hernia.
Prior to leaving the animal clinic, members of the medical and veterinary team noticed deterioration in P-Suke’s medical condition. He was immediately transferred to the bonobo home at Great Ape Trust. Attempts to reverse his condition failed. P-Suke was pronounced dead at approximately 11:55 a.m. CDT.
Members of the multidisciplinary team included staff veterinarian Brigetta Hughes, DVM; consulting veterinarians Dennis Riordan, DVM, and Bobby Brown, DVM, Sam Greer, DO, anesthesiologist and Pat Overton, anesthesiology technician.
P-Suke’s remains were transferred by Great Ape Trust veterinarians Hughes and Riordan to the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for an autopsy. Cause of death will be determined with the autopsy results which are expected the week of July 24th.
P-Suke was father to four of the bonobos at Great Ape Trust: Elikya, Nyota, Nathan and Maisha. He came to The Trust in 2005 from the Language Research Center at Georgia State University. P-Suke was sent to Georgia State University by scientists in Japan.
Great Ape Trust Background
When completed, Great Ape Trust will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans – for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.
Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and is certified by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). |
