Within just a few hours, the gorilla group at Basel Zoo suffered two significant losses.
Following the death of Mobali, an 11-year-old western lowland gorilla male who was humanely euthanised after sustaining severe injuries during a confrontation with the silverback Yeba, the Swiss zoo also announced the death of a newborn female born just four days earlier to Joas.
According to the zoo, the infant sustained a fatal injury inflicted by Yeba, the group’s dominant silverback.
The newborn was Yeba’s first offspring. The incident, which occurred only hours after the conflict that claimed Mobali’s life, highlights the complexity of the social dynamics that govern gorilla groups, one of the most intricate social structures in the animal kingdom.
The first tragedy unfolded when Mobali was seriously injured during an encounter with Yeba. Despite intensive veterinary care, his injuries were considered incompatible with recovery, and the zoo made the decision to humanely euthanise him to prevent further suffering. Just a few hours later, the zoo announced the death of the newborn, which was also the result of an interaction involving the silverback.
