COLUMBUS – Colo, the world’s oldest gorilla, died overnight at the age of 60, according to officials at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The matriarch of the zoo’s gorilla family died in her sleep overnight, according to an announcement released Tuesday morning.
“Colo touched the hearts of generations of people who came to see her and those that cared for her over her long lifetime,” said zoo president and CEO Tom Stalf. “She was an ambassador for gorillas and inspired people to learn more about the critically endangered species and motivated them to protect gorillas in their native habitat.”
Colo was the oldest gorilla on record and exceeded her normal life expectancy by more than two decades.
She was the first gorilla born in a zoo on Dec. 22, 1956, when little was known about conserving the western lowland gorilla, and her birth made headlines around the world
Colo celebrated her historic 60th birthday last month surrounded by thousands of fans and with birthday wishes coming from around the world.