Monday, April 25, 2011

Birth control pills work on gorillas

In 2007 an elderly but amorous female gorilla was "put on the pill" by Belfast Zoo vets to prevent her becoming pregnant. The reason for the precaution was that at 44 years old, Delilah was still healthy enough to mate. Her behaviour with her male friends continually belies her years. The zoo's vets decided that a pregnancy would be too dangerous for the lively primate, especially because she has arthritis.

The spritely 44-year-old is one of the oldest gorillas in captivity anywhere.


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