SECRETARY'S REPORT 143 



REPORT OF THE VETERINARIAN 



Nikumba, the adult male gorilla, whose paraplegia was mentioned in 

 last year's Keport, made an essentially complete recovery in 8 months. 

 A tentative diagnosis was made of a selective spotty viral infection of 

 the spinal cord. Nikumba was treated daily for approximately 3 

 months. Chloromycetin succinate and Bejectal, a vitamin-B complex, 

 were injected intramuscularly, by the use of the projectile syringe and 

 the Cap-Chur gun. Methylprednisolone was given orally in Coca 

 Cola syrup. The most noteworthy progress was seen approximately 

 21/^ months after the onset of the paralytic attack when Nikumba was 

 able to stand erect and take two or three steps before returning to a 

 sitting position. His progress since that time has been slow and 

 steady ; he has regained his original weight and is movmg in a normal 

 manner. 



One of the most interesting things that occurred during the treat- 

 ment period was the gorilla's reaction to the use of the Cap-Chur gun 

 equipment. One could enter the room with empty hands and Nikumba 

 would come to the bars with a desire to hold your arm or your hand, 

 and displayed every evidence of affection. As soon as the equipment 

 was produced, however, Nikumba would retreat to a far corner of the 

 cage or climb to the top of the shift cage. He became very nervous 

 and would swing from the horizontal bars in the cage to escape the 

 administration of the medication. Immediately following the injec- 

 tion Nikumba would realize that the treatment had been completed 

 and would then come forward to the bars and display his normal 

 friendliness. 



His recovery has been observed with a great deal of interest because 

 he is not only an excellent specimen of the male lowland gorilla but 

 also a proven sire. The first baby, Tomoka, was born on September 

 9, 1961. Leonard, a second male, was born on January 10, 1964. The 

 last observed mating of the parent gorillas took place on April 24 and 

 25, 1963, approximately 2 months before the onset of the paraplegia of 

 the breeding male. It has been necessary for both babies to be raised 

 by the wife of a keeper, since Moka had no milk following either birth. 

 The entire staff is anxiously awaiting Moka's return to a regular 

 menstrual cycle to observe Nikumba's ability to mate following his 

 paralysis. 



On December 16, 1963, Deepali, an adult Indian rhinoceros and her 

 baby were received by air from India. Eleven days following the 

 arrival symptoms of an intestinal colic were noted in the adult at 1 

 p.m., and death occurred at 9 o'clock that evening. An immediate 

 autopsy was performed and the cause of death was found to be a per- 

 acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Approximately 4 liters of free 

 blood were found in the stomach and the anterior portion of the small 



