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Morning News

Zoo Atlanta's Willie B. Battles Pneumonia

Aired January 20, 2000 - 9:23 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The flu has hit a lot of people hard this winter, and at the zoo here in Atlanta, even some of the animals are getting sick, including the famous gorilla Willie B., whose bout with the flu turned into pneumonia.

Roy Hobbs (ph) of our affiliate WAGA has more on Willie B.'s condition.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROY HOBBS, WAGA REPORTER (voice-over): For nearly 40 years Willie B. has called Zoo Atlanta home. He came here at the age of two after being captured in the wild near Cameron in Africa. He has been a favorite here at Zoo Atlanta all of his life. But now, Willie B. has yet to recover from a bout with the flu.

GAIL EATON, ZOO ATLANTA: Like a lot of humans, you know, this has been a tough winter for colds and flu. And actually, most of the gorillas did suffer with a mild respiratory infection. And the kids and the females all got over it very quickly and bounced back in a few days. And unfortunately, Willie didn't bounce back. He did develop pneumonia.

HOBBS: Right now, he is being treated in his in-door habitat by a team of doctors.

EATON: At 41, he is an old-timer. So naturally, it is serious when an animal develops that kind of problem. And fluid in the lungs can certainly cause some stress on the heart. So he is being evaluated by a large team of medical specialists to determine how he is doing, and we do have him on some heart medication.

HOBBS: Willie B.'s family, His mate Chumba (ph), and his children, four girls and a boy, are with him. Zoo Atlanta officials say, his family is showing concern, but it is evident their presence is making Willie B. feel better.

EATON: He is in stable condition. And we are guardedly optimistic that he will recover fully and be back out on exhibit soon. Dr. Maple (ph) says he's a tough old guy, and he's optimistic that Willie will be back to the business of making baby gorillas before too long.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: Well, I'm sure the lady gorilla are happy to hear that.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Tough old guy, yes, you are probably right there.

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