ST. LOUIS — A gorilla at the St. Louis Zoo has been found accidentally strangled in his sleeping cage.
Zookeepers said they found the body of 8-year-old Muchana tangled in some rope Saturday morning. Assistant general curator Bill Houston told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it appeared Muchana managed to pull apart some of the rope used for climbing and it became wrapped around his neck.
Zoo veterinarians couldn't revive the gorilla.
Muchana's death comes two weeks after a hairless chimpanzee at the zoo, named Cinder, died of an unknown cause. Tests are pending.
Meanwhile, Jade, a 2-year-old Asian elephant, has been fighting a potentially lethal strain of herpes for several weeks. Houston said Jade was improving.