SEATTLE — It looks like Zuri, (ZOO-ree) a male western lowland gorilla, has the green light to head for his new home, the Oklahoma City Zoo. The 14-year-old endangered ape received an official clean bill of health after undergoing a full physical exam late yesterday at Woodland Park Zoo’s animal health hospital.

Zuri, who was under anesthesia during the two-hour procedure, was examined by zoo animal health staff and a team of volunteer physicians. From head to toe, the medical team performed blood work; weighed him; checked ears, nose, throat, heart and lungs; administered tuberculosis testing and tetanus shots; and performed x-rays. Additionally, Zuri received a dental exam by Dr. Jim McGraw with Bellevue Endodontic Associates; a chest, heart and abdominal ultrasound by Drs. Robert Liddell with Radiology Consultants of Washington (Bellevue, WA) and Jerry Woodfield. Drs. Wayne Weissman and Mary Forester collected semen from the gorilla to determine fertility, while Dr. Mark Lowmiller assisted with the anesthesia. The physicians are longtime volunteers for the zoo.

Now that Zuri has passed his physical exam, he’s scheduled to fly to Oklahoma aboard a cargo plane on Wednesday, November 5. Woodland Park Zoo gorilla keeper Judy Sievert will accompany Zuri and will spend about a week helping him adjust to his new surroundings and briefing Oklahoma Zoo keepers on Zuri’s nuances.

"Oklahoma City Zoo is extremely lucky to be receiving Zuri," states Woodland Park Zoo senior veterinarian Dr. Janis Joslin. "He’s a fine healthy individual, and despite his past aggressions with his father, he’s a mellow gorilla. We’ll miss him terribly."