Ozzie, Oldest Gorilla dies at 61

On January 25th, 2022, Ozzie, the oldest male gorilla in the world, died at age 61 at the Atlanta Zoo. Ozzie was a Western Lowland gorilla and was the last surviving member of the original generation that arrived in the US in 1988. 

Ozzie was a remarkable gorilla and made history in 2009 when he was the first to participate in a voluntary blood pressure reading (Ozzie decided to take a blood pressure test himself). At the time of the reading, he was 48, an age considered geriatric for gorillas, which makes this accomplishment even more impressive. 

Raymond Kind, the CEO and president of the Atlanta Zoo said, “Ozzie’s life’s contributions are indelible, both in the generations of individuals he leaves behind in the gorilla population and in the world’s body of knowledge in the care of his species.” Ozzie has a daughter, Kuchi, and three sons, Kelki, Stadi, and Charlie. He also has a granddaughter, Lulu, and great-grandchildren, Andi and Floyd, and more descendants across North America. Ozzie’s favorite foods were oranges and cabbage.

Unfortunately, Ozzie’s species is critically endangered, and has declined by more than 60% in the last two decades, and more than 90% in specific parts of Western Africa. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature says that diseases, habitat threats, poaching threats, and illegal hunting for bushmeat trade has caused this. Because of these threats, some Gorillas have been living in Zoos which will hopefully provide a habitat for future generations. 

By Davik Yadav