San Diego

Oldest Male Bonobo at Jacksonville Zoo Dies

The oldest male bonobo at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has died of cardiac arrest.

In a news release on Tuesday, zoo officials said 35-year-old Akili was being treated for heart disease, which is common in great apes.

Zoo spokesman Lucas Meers says Akili was anesthetized for an exam to assess his condition last Wednesday when he went into cardiac arrest. Officials weren't able to revive him.

Meers says Akili would have turned 36 in July. He was born at Yerkes National Primate Research Center in 1980. He lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park until he came to the Jacksonville Zoo in 2008. He was the primary breeding male of the zoo's bonobo group.

The Florida Times-Union reports Akili has five offspring.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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