CNN
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According to the zoo, three monkeys at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens died last week from a highly contagious bacterial infection.

Bulera, a 35-year-old female lowland gorilla, died of shigellosis – a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, cramps, vomiting and dehydration, the zoo announced in a social media post on August 22.

Two bonobo brothers, Jumanji and Jenga, later died from the infection, the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida said on Monday.

The source of the infection is unknown, but the zoo said it could have come from an asymptomatic monkey that began shedding bacteria for an unknown reason. “It is also possible that the bacteria came from an asymptomatic employee, but this is highly unlikely,” the zoo said.

Shigella is typically transmitted among primates through feces, food and water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can also affect humans, who may experience similar symptoms that usually go away on their own without antibiotic treatment.

There is no danger to zoo visitors, said Tracy Fenn, curator of mammals at the Jacksonville Zoo, during a press conference.

All three animals suffered from heart disease and were therefore more susceptible to the spread of the infection among the zoo’s primates, Fenn said.

Bulera was born at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1989 and came to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in 2009 with her daughter, Madini. Bulera had a son in 2015 and became a foster mother to a baby gorilla whose biological mother was unable to raise it, the zoo said.

Born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Jumanji moved to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in 2008. Described as a “sweet and gentle soul,” Jumanji supported his younger brother Jenga after their mother passed away in 2018.

Bonobos are native to the Democratic Republic of Congo and resemble chimpanzees, but have a smaller body frame, shorter collarbones and smaller molars. The female bonobo is the leader of the pack, and male bonobos stay with their mother for life and depend on her for protection and social status, the zoo said.

Jenga, the first bonobo birth witnessed by the facility’s keepers, was a goofball who was always up to mischief, the zoo said.

“We navigate this difficult time with heavy hearts and feel the burden of grief as we continue to care for the rest of our animals,” Jeff Ettling, the zoo’s CEO and president, said Wednesday.

Shigellosis can be much more serious in monkeys because it is more difficult for them to fight the bacteria, the zoo said.

Some of the other 18 monkeys at the Primate Forest are exhibiting symptoms similar to those seen in Bulera, Jumanji and Jenga and are in varying stages of treatment and recovery. They are being kept apart from those who are not showing symptoms, Fenn added.

Treatment involves giving animals fluids, antibiotics and electrolytes. Some animals may require intravenous treatment under sedation, she said.

There is no danger to zoo visitors and the zoo is a safe place to visit, officials said.

The facility has set up a fund for public donations as it continues to care for the infected animals.