Little Joe, Gorilla That Once Escaped Franklin Park Zoo, Is Leaving Boston

CBS Boston

April 22, 2026

Little Joe is leaving Boston after decades at the Franklin Park Zoo.

The zoo did not say exactly where the 33-year-old gorilla is going, but said he'll move to an accredited institution, "where it is hoped that he will be successful in starting his own family."

In 2003, Little Joe made national headlines when he escaped his enclosure and ran into the city, injuring a 2-year-old girl. The zoo made safety upgrades in the years that followed.

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