Ozzie, the world’s oldest male Gorilla has died and because he was among a group of the primates who tested positive for COVID last year, it’s possible the disease could be to blame for his eventual demise.
The 61-year-old was found dead at Zoo Atlanta Tuesday, President and CEO Raymond B. King said of Ozzie’s loss, “While we knew this time would come someday, that inevitability does nothing to stem the deep sadness we feel at losing a legend.”
The statement as released by Zoo Atlanta on the death of the world’s oldest male Gorilla, reads:
“Our hearts are broken at the passing of a legend. We’re devastated to share that Ozzie, the world’s oldest male gorilla, has died at 61.
He was found deceased by his care team this morning.
He was the oldest gorilla at Zoo Atlanta and the third-oldest in the world.
Ozzie’s cause of death is not yet known. He exhibited decreased appetite on Jan. 20, and the Animal Care and Veterinary Teams were providing him with supportive care to encourage him to eat and drink.
Over the past 24 hours, the teams had been treating him when he presented symptoms including facial swelling, weakness, and inability to eat or drink.
A necropsy, or the non-human equivalent of an autopsy, will be performed through the Zoo’s partnership with the University of Georgia Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service in the College of Veterinary Medicine and should provide us with more information. We’ll share these results once they are available.
A legend in his own time, Ozzie was a symbol of the rebirth of the Zoo in the 1980s. He was the only surviving member of the original generation of gorillas who arrived at Zoo Atlanta with the opening of The Ford African Rain Forest.
He made history in 2009, when he became the first gorilla in the world ever to participate in a voluntary blood pressure reading. Remarkably, he was geriatric even then, at 48. Gorillas are considered geriatric after the age of about 40.
Here at the Zoo, Ozzie is survived by daughter Kuchi; sons Kekla, Stadi, and Charlie; granddaughter Lulu; great-granddaughter Andi, and a great-grandson very near and dear to all of you: Floyd. He also has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at other accredited zoos in the U.S. and Canada.
Ozzie’s incredible longevity is a testament to the care, expertise, and innovations of our Gorilla Care Team, which has become renowned for the care of geriatric gorillas.
“No matter how many years we get with our animals, it’s never long enough,” said Jodi Carrigan, Associate Curator of Primates. “We made every minute count with Ozzie, and he will always live on in our hearts.”
On behalf of all of us at Zoo Atlanta, thank you for your support on this very difficult day,” the statement said.