Lisa, partner of the late Max, Joburg's famous crime-fighting gorilla, died after an emergency operation

RELATED LINKS: Shock as Lisa the gorilla dies LISA, Johannesburg Zoo's popular female gorilla, died following an emergency operation on 5 April. Read more Sorrow as Max the gorilla dies MAX the Gorilla, best known for his crime-fighting activities when he took on a gun-wielding attacker back in his cage in Johannesburg Zoo in 1997, is dead. Read more Courtship ritual for Joburg's gorillas JOHANNESBURG Zoo's popular gorilla Lisa, who has been without a mate since the death of partner Max in May 2004, will meet her new beau on Valentine's Day. Read more Johannesburg Zoo THE zoo is one of the treasures of Johannesburg, a wonderful source of enjoyment and relaxation for locals and foreign visitors alike. Read more

Zoo plans to cremate Lisa Staff at Joburg Zoo are saddened by the sudden death of Lisa. The gorilla died while under anaesthetic after an operation to explore a breast lump. April 6, 2006 By Thabang Mokoka LISA, the life-long partner of the late Max, Joburg's famous crime-fighting gorilla, died while under anaesthetic after she underwent emergency surgery to examine a large lump that had formed next to her breast. The operation, which began at 11am, was carried out on Wednesday, 5 April and Lisa died at 3.30pm. Dr Michelle Barrows, the zoo's senior veterinarian, performed the operation, assisted by two specialist doctors. The specialists, who usually treat human patients, were brought in because of Lisa's age. She was 35 years old, which is considered old for a gorilla, according to Senzo Ngcobo, the zoo's marketing co-ordinator. Explaining the death, the zoo's chief executive, Jenny Grey said the anaesthetic got into Lisa's lungs. According to a zoo press release, surgery of this nature carries a high risk for an old gorilla. Ngcobo said a post-mortem would be conducted to determine the cause of the death, and funeral arrangements had not been made yet. He said as soon as the zoo had a report, the gorilla would be cremated. Lisa, who has been a familiar figure at the Johannesburg Zoo for the past 15 years, originally came from the Moscow Zoo. The gorilla's partner Max died almost two years ago, in May 2004, of old age. Max became famous when he tackled a criminal on the run from police. A year ago the zoo obtained another partner for Lisa, the 19-year-old Makoko. The pair went through an elaborate "courtship", where they were introduced to one another over a long period. Initially they were introduced to each other through mirrors installed in their respective enclosures. Then they were moved closer to one another to get use to each other's smell, before being allowed to share an enclosure. Makoko is now the only gorilla at the Johannesburg Zoo. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za