ASHEBORO, N.C., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The North Carolina Zoo said in a statement Wednesday it euthanized its 21-year-old male gorilla "Nkosi" after unsuccessful treatment of an unidentified illness.
The gorilla, nicknamed "Nik," arrived at the Asheboro, N.C., zoo in 2008 and was the father of two male gorillas, "Bomassa" and "Apollo" -- the first successful gorilla births at the zoo in 23 years -- the statement from the zoo said.
"Nkosi" became ill a week ago with symptoms including headaches and loss of appetite, and "finally collapsed" Sunday, Curator Adrian Fowler said.
"By Sunday morning Nik was unable to move, eat or drink. In the end we had no other choice but to euthanize on humane grounds," Fowler added.
The gorilla was euthanized Tuesday.
