Jacksonville, FL – On Monday, the Jacksonville Zoo announced the deaths of Jumanji and Jenga, apes who contracted the deadly Shigella infection. The brothers’ deaths mark the third ape death at the zoo since August 23. The first ape to die from Shigella was a 35-year-old female gorilla named Bulera.

In a release, the zoo said, “As we work to overcome the Shigella infection affecting our apes, we are deeply saddened to share the passing of beloved brother bonobos, Jumanji and Jenga, due to the illness.”

Jumanji, born in 1996, was described as a “sweet and gentle soul, a laid-back kind of guy who was friendly to all other bonobos.” His brother, Jenga, born in 2011, “was a goofball that loved to play with others and cause a little mischief.”

The zoo describes the deadly infection claiming lives,

Shigella is a bacteria that causes shigellosis, mainly affecting the intestines and causing symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and dehydration. The infection usually spreads through contact with feces, food or water and can be more severe in apes, as they may have a harder time fighting off the bacteria.

You can read more about Shigella at this link.

Rest easy Jenga, Jumanji, and Bulera.

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