Neighbor News
That time I met Colo, the world's oldest gorilla
It was my first time meeting her and sadly my last. The world's oldest gorilla passed away January 17th and is remembered by many.
In September of 2014, I went to the Columbus Zoo and met Colo for the first time. Sadly it would also be my last time meeting Colo, the world's oldest gorilla and the first gorilla born and raised in a zoo. Colo made history as many at the time thought it was impossible for a gorilla to survive in captivity and under human care. She passed away a couple days ago shortly after celebrating her 60th birthday - two decades past her expected lifespan. It not only represents a lifetime of memories but important strides in conservation of what is a critically endangered species.
Other animals you might look at as a spectacle but Colo, you would wonder what she was thinking about you. She could often be seen in this pose looking at passerbys. If you stare at her, she stares right back at you. I took some time just to sit there and hang out with her. I wasn't just looking at her, I was meeting her. Seeing and feeling her awareness gave me a new appreciation of our primate friends.
From Colo showing her infant to a mother holding hers to learning to wear her hat backwards from a caregiver (and later, when she lost her hat, trying to steal his!), many have fond and unique memories of what was more than just an animal. Thank you, Columbus Zoo, for showing me and millions of others how beautiful animals can be in a way that can't be captured on video.