U.S. News - gorilla

Updated

Apr

2013

11:06am, EDT

Pattycake, the first New York-born gorilla, dies at 40

Julie Larsen Maher/Bronx Zoo via Reuters, file

Pattycake, the first gorilla born in New York City, sits in the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. She has died aged 40.

By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News

Pattycake, the first gorilla born in New York City, has died aged 40, the operators of the Bronx Zoo announced late Sunday.

She was suffering from chronic cardiac problems and was under medical care due to her advanced age, the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement.

"Millions of children in New York City grew up with Pattycake at the Bronx Zoo," said Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo and WCS executive vice president. "Pattycake was a very special animal and her presence will be deeply missed."

The median life span for gorillas in zoos is 37 years, and Pattycake was the 31st oldest gorilla of the 338 presently residing in North American zoos, WCS said.

Pattycake was born at the Central Park Zoo on Sept. 3, 1972 and lived there with her parents Kongo and Lulu until moving to the Bronx Zoo in 1983.

She had 10 infants while at the Bronx Zoo, including twins born in 1995. Her offspring currently reside in zoos in Omaha, Louisville, Utah, Detroit, Boston and Buffalo.

Baby gorilla on black market for $40,000 is rescued

This story was originally published on Mon Apr 1, 2013 4:16 AM EDT

Oct

2012

10:46pm, EDT

Gorilla grandma celebrates 55th birthday

By Monica Garske

Tammy Spratt / San Diego Zoo Safari Park via AP

Vila turns 55 this weekend and who keepers say is the third-oldest known western lowland gorilla in the world.

The third-oldest known gorilla in the world is celebrating her 55th birthday this weekend at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, zoo officials announced.

While the hand-raised, western lowland gorilla named “Vila” may be turning the big 55, zookeepers said she’s in remarkable condition for her age.

They credit the Southern California climate for Vila’s good health.

According to zoo officials, Vila has served as a surrogate mother to seven gorillas during her life and also plays grandmother to the San Diego Zoo’s youngest gorilla, Monroe.

View complete coverage at NBCSanDiego.com

On Friday morning Vila showed off her grandma skills by letting Monroe ride around on her back, as pictured above.

Besides her notable age and contributions as a surrogate mother, zoo officials said Vila has also made significant contributions to the understanding of her critically endangered species over the years.

She participated in a six-year study on great ape intelligence, which zoo officials said contributed to the base of scientific knowledge that researchers now have about gorillas.