Colo, World's Oldest Known Gorilla, Dies At 60

The world’s oldest known gorilla died in her sleep overnight, the Columbus Zoo announced Tuesday.

Colo, a 60-year-old Western lowland gorilla, was the first gorilla ever born in a zoo, according to the Columbus Zoo. A necropsy is planned to determine Colo’s cause of death, but the zoo notes that she had a malignant tumor removed under her arm on Dec. 3.

Colo, whose name was short for “Columbus, Ohio,” had just celebrated her 60th birthday on Dec. 22, which zookeepers rang in with a gifts and a cake made out of apples and tomatoes. 

“She was the coolest animal I’ve ever worked with and caring for her was the highlight of my career,” assistant curator Audra Meinelt said in the zoo’s statement. “It was not just about what she meant for the gorilla community but for whom she was as a a gorilla. I’m heartbroken but also grateful for the 19 years I had with Colo.”

The average lifespan of a Western lowland gorilla in the wild is 35 years, according to National Geographic. And although gorillas in captivity may have longer lifespans, some primatologists and animal advocates question whether the large, intelligent creatures ethically can be kept in zoos at all.

Primatologist Sarah Bluffer Hrdy told The New York Times in June that she has to “turn off” her feelings when she goes to a zoo.

“Otherwise, I can’t really justify keeping great apes in cages,” she said.