King freaked out! Koga, the 400-pound silverback, passes out at his annual health check as brave vets examine his heart, eyes, teeth and muscles
- Koga, 34, is a western lowland gorilla and has an MOT every two years
- A huge team of medics is assembled to conduct the review to ensure it goes smoothly
- Koga’s pictures were taken by Christian Dobosiewicz, 30, during the proceedings
- His health check showed he was in good shape and happy and healthy
This is when Koga, the 400-pound silverback, was knocked out for his annual health MOT, where brave vets examined his heart, eyes, teeth and muscles.
34-year-old Koga, a western lowland gorilla, has an MOT every two years to ensure his health is in top condition.
The pictures of Koga, who has lived at the Buffalo Zoo in New York since 2007, were taken by Christian Dobosiewicz, 30.
Photos show the animal sleeping while the medical team checks its health.
The giant animal can also be seen holding the hand of one of the investigative teams, its huge stature making hers look tiny.
Koga’s investigation went well under the watchful eye of the large team who made sure everything went smoothly.
The ‘father figure’ gorilla, who is massive and can be a very dangerous animal, is happy and healthy.
34-year-old Koga, a western lowland gorilla, has an MOT every two years to ensure his health is in top condition. The pictures of Koga, who has been at the Buffalo Zoo in New York since 2007, were taken by Christian Dobosiewicz, 30. Pictured: Koga the gorilla during his physical exam
Photos show the animal sleeping while the medical team checks its health. The giant animal is also seen holding the hand of one of the team members conducting its investigation, although its huge stature makes it appear tiny
Koga’s investigation went well under the watchful eye of the large team who made sure everything went smoothly. Pictured: Koga now
Christian said: “Koga is a very good father to the other gorillas in our zoo. He looks mean, but that’s his role as a protector.
“He’s really good with goalkeepers and responds well to training sessions and behind the scenes he’s always playing with the kids.
“Every few years he has a physical exam to make sure he’s healthy and well.
“They look at its heart to look for heart disease, which can be common in these animals, and examine the rest of its body, including its teeth, eyes, joints and muscles.
“It’s a big process and requires a big team to make sure everything goes smoothly. He’s huge and can be a very dangerous animal, so it can be tense at first, but our team is remarkable.
Koga’s investigation went well under the watchful eye of the large team who made sure everything went smoothly. Pictured: Koga during the procedure
The ‘father figure’ gorilla, who is massive and can be a very dangerous animal, is happy and healthy. Pictured: Koga during the procedure
“He weighs about 400 pounds, so he’s a very powerful animal.
“The team is professional and always on the ball. It’s never nerve-wracking to be in the room with them because I know how great they are at their job.
“It’s incredible to see the size of his hands and fingers. I put my hands against his and that puts a lot into perspective.
“It’s very cool to see how powerful and strong he is and to get so close to such an interesting animal.
“Everything went well during the check-up and Koga is as happy and healthy as ever.”
Photographer Christan said, “It’s very cool to see how powerful and strong he is and to get so close to such an interesting animal.” Pictured: The process
Christian described the team as professional and always on the ball. In the picture: the process
