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Colo (gorilla)
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 Colo, photographed March 5, 2009 | |
| Species | Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Born | December 22, 1956 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 2017 (aged 60) Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, U.S. |
| Known for | First gorilla born in captivity and oldest gorilla in captivity |
| web | |
Colo (December 22, 1956 – January 17, 2017) was a western gorilla widely known as the first gorilla to be born in captivity anywhere in the world and the oldest known gorilla in the world in 2017.[1][2][3][4] Colo was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to Millie Christina (mother) and Baron Macombo (father), and lived there for her entire life. She was briefly called "Cuddles" before a contest was held to officially name her. (Mrs. Howard Brannon of Zanesville, Ohio, won the contest.)[5] Colo's name was derived from the place of her birth, Columbus, Ohio.[6]
Life
[edit]The Columbus Zoo first introduced gorillas in 1951. It was in 1956 that two gorillas first produced offspring in the zoo. The gorilla was named Colo, short for Columbus. After she was rejected at birth by her mother, zookeepers had to hand-raise Colo. They hand-raised her much like a human child, by dressing her in clothes and giving her bottles of formula.[7] At the age of two years, Colo was introduced to a 19-month-old male from Africa called Bongo. Colo and Bongo had three offspring; Emmy on February 1, 1968, Oscar on July 18, 1969, and Toni on December 28, 1971.[8]
On April 25, 1979, Columbus Zoo had its first third generation birth. The infant was named Cora, short for Central Ohio Rare Ape. On January 27, 1997, Colo's great-grandson Jantu was born. A birth at the Henry Doorly Zoo made Colo a great-great-grandmother in 2003.[9] Although Colo did not raise any of her own offspring, she reared her twin grandsons, Macombo II and Mosuba, from birth.[10] Colo also acted as a guardian for her grandson, named J.J. after "Jungle" Jack Hanna with whom he shares a birthday.[11]
Colo was held at the Columbus Zoo and has been there longer than any other animal in the zoo's captive animal collection. Colo and her progeny, five of whom are still held at the Columbus Zoo, comprised about one-third of the Zoo's 17 captive gorillas as of 2015.[12]
Colo became the oldest living gorilla in captivity following the death of 55-year-old Jenny in September 2008.[13] Colo celebrated her 60th birthday on December 22, 2016.[6] The Columbus Zoo announced that Colo died in her sleep on January 17, 2017.[14]
Genealogy
[edit]Colo was a mother to three, a grandmother to 16, a great-grandmother to 12, and a great-great-grandmother to three.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Colo, the oldest gorilla in captivity, dies aged 60". BBC News. January 18, 2017. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ James L. Newman (5 July 2013). Encountering Gorillas: A Chronicle of Discovery, Exploitation, Understanding, and Survival. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 125–8. ISBN 978-1-4422-1957-1.
- ^ Lyttle, Jeff (1997). Gorillas in Our Midst: The Story of the Columbus Zoo Gorillas. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Press. ISBN 9780814207666.
- ^ Jesse Donahue; Erik Trump (2007). Political Animals: Public Art in American Zoos and Aquariums. Lexington Books. pp. 99–102. ISBN 978-0-7391-1120-8.
- ^ Colo’s Story: The Life of One Grand Gorilla by Nancy Roe Pimm ISBN 978-0-9841554-4-6
- ^ a b "Columbus Zoo – Colo's Birthday!". Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
- ^ "Popular Science Monthly". Popular Science Monthly. 176: 83–4. 1960.
- ^ "World's Oldest Gorilla Celebrates Birthday at Columbus Zoo". Archived from the original on 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
- ^ "Columbus — Gorilla Genealogy – Charts & Family Trees for Gorillas in Captivity". Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
- ^ Grzimek, Bernhard (1984). Grzimek's Animal life encyclopedia | Volume 10 - Mammals 1 (English ed.). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. p. 540. ISBN 9780442230449.
- ^ Nancy Roe Pimm (1 January 2011). Colo's Story: The Life of One Grand Gorilla. Lerner Publishing Group. pp. 41–2. ISBN 978-0-9841554-4-6.
- ^ "Gorilla Family – Columbus". 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ "55-year-old gorilla dies at Dallas Zoo". Fort Worth Star Telegram. Associated Press. 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2008-09-28. [dead link]
- ^ "Columbus Zoo Announces the Death of Colo, World's Oldest Zoo Gorilla". Archived from the original on 2017-01-22. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^ Schmidt, Samantha (January 18, 2017). "Thousands mourn the death of Colo, the world's oldest zoo gorilla". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
External links
[edit]
Colo (gorilla)
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Birth and Early Life
Birth
Colo, a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), was born on December 22, 1956, at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio, United States.[2] Her parents were Millie Christina, the mother, and Baron Macombo, the father, both wild-caught western lowland gorillas captured in Africa and imported to the zoo.[7][8] The birth occurred unexpectedly overnight, and during his morning rounds, part-time keeper Warren Thomas discovered the newborn Colo still encased in her amniotic sac in Millie's enclosure. He performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive her, marking a rare and closely monitored event in primate husbandry at the time. Colo weighed approximately 3.75 pounds (1.7 kilograms) at birth and measured about 15 inches (38 centimeters) in length; she underwent initial medical examinations to ensure her health before being placed in an incubator.[9][1] The name "Colo" was chosen as a portmanteau of "Columbus" and "Ohio," reflecting her birthplace and the excitement surrounding the occasion.[2] As the first gorilla ever born in captivity anywhere in the world, Colo's arrival represented a pivotal breakthrough in ex situ conservation efforts and zoo-based breeding programs for endangered primates, demonstrating that successful reproduction was possible outside the wild.[2][8] The event garnered immediate international media attention, with news of the birth spreading rapidly and highlighting the potential for zoos to contribute to species preservation amid declining wild populations.[7] Public interest surged following the announcement, significantly boosting the zoo's profile and attendance; in 1957, the year after her birth, visitor numbers exceeded one million, a record that stood for over three decades and underscored Colo's role in raising awareness about gorilla conservation.[4][8]Infancy and Juvenile Years
Colo was rejected by her inexperienced mother, Millie, shortly after birth, leading to hand-rearing by Columbus Zoo staff to ensure her survival. Zookeepers bottle-fed her a specialized formula supplemented with vitamins, diapered her every 15 minutes in the initial weeks, and dressed her in clothing to facilitate handling and socialization, mimicking aspects of human infant care while encouraging natural gorilla behaviors through toys and interaction. These efforts were crucial given Millie's status as a young, first-time mother who showed disinterest and daze post-delivery.[4][8] During her infancy, Colo achieved key developmental milestones ahead of typical human infant timelines but aligned with gorilla norms. She began sitting and standing within the first few months, taking her first steps around three months of age and walking proficiently by early 1957, progressing twice as quickly as human babies in motor skills. Weaning from formula to solid baby foods occurred around 18 months, marking her transition toward independence. By age two, in late 1958, she was successfully integrated into a social group with the arrival of young male gorilla Bongo, fostering peer interactions in a shared enclosure.[4] In her juvenile years, Colo's behaviors highlighted her adaptability and intelligence, including playful antics like donning bowls as hats and precise spitting during interactions, which helped her learn social hierarchies among peers. She adapted readily to enclosure life, engaging in exploratory play that demonstrated curiosity and problem-solving, such as attempting escapes from her habitat. Veterinary care addressed common juvenile health challenges, including respiratory infections and a serious case of tuberculosis in 1963 at age seven, which was treated successfully with human-equivalent medications under close monitoring.[4] Colo's early life served an important educational function at the Columbus Zoo, where staff used her visible development and behaviors in public programs to illustrate gorilla social dynamics and care requirements. As the first gorilla born in captivity, her hand-rearing and growth provided a model for primate husbandry, educating visitors on conservation challenges and the value of zoo-based breeding efforts.[4][1]Adulthood at Columbus Zoo
Reproductive Role
Colo was paired with the wild-born silverback Bongo in 1958, when she was approximately two years old, marking an early attempt to establish breeding pairs in captivity at the Columbus Zoo.[8] Although gorillas typically reach sexual maturity around age 7-10, their first successful reproduction occurred a decade later, with Colo giving birth to three offspring between 1968 and 1971.[4] These births represented significant milestones in captive gorilla propagation: her daughter Emmy, born on February 2, 1968, was the first second-generation gorilla born in captivity, while son Oscar, born July 18, 1969.[1] Their sibling, daughter Toni, arrived on December 28, 1971.[8] Despite these successes, Colo's reproductive efforts faced notable challenges common to early captive breeding programs. As a hand-reared gorilla herself—due to her mother's inability to care for her—Colo lacked natural parenting instincts, leading zookeepers to hand-rear all three of her infants to ensure their survival, a practice driven by concerns over potential maternal rejection or injury.[4] Two of her offspring, Emmy and Oscar, later succumbed to health issues in adulthood—Emmy to abdominal inflammation at age 14 in 1982, and Oscar at age 24 in 1993—highlighting the vulnerabilities in early veterinary care for captive gorillas.[4] These cases contributed to advancements in gorilla obstetrics and neonatal care at the Columbus Zoo, including improved monitoring of pregnancies and post-birth interventions that informed broader protocols for western lowland gorilla husbandry.[8] Colo's breeding achievements played a pivotal role in pioneering captive populations of western lowland gorillas, demonstrating that multi-generational reproduction was feasible in managed environments.[1] Her lineage expanded to include 16 grandchildren, whose descendants further bolstered genetic diversity through strategic pairings managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan.[10] This success helped transition zoo practices from isolation to family-based groups, laying the groundwork for later innovations like artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization at the Columbus Zoo, which enhanced the viability of ex situ populations amid declining wild numbers.[8]Longevity and Health
Colo lived to the age of 60 years and 26 days, making her the oldest known gorilla in the world at the time of her death.[11] In contrast, wild western lowland gorillas typically have a lifespan of 35 to 40 years, limited by environmental hazards and disease, while the median life expectancy for female gorillas in human care is approximately 38 years.[12] Her exceptional longevity was supported by a tailored daily regimen at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, including a specialized diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and supplements like protein powder and Ensure to combat age-related muscle tone loss starting around age 40, along with structured exercise such as arm lifts, standing activities, and voluntary movement through chutes between enclosures to promote physical activity.[13] Enclosure enrichments were adapted for her aging needs, incorporating firehose railings, knotted steps, and mesh ramps by age 47 to facilitate easier navigation and reduce fall risks.[13] Health monitoring for Colo involved comprehensive routine check-ups, with daily observations of bowel movements and periodic veterinary examinations to address geriatric concerns. Dental care was a focus, as aging gorillas commonly experience decay, and she underwent evaluations that occasionally led to interventions, such as potential dental work identified during a 2009 physical.[14] In her later years, arthritis—particularly severe in her hands—emerged as her primary condition, managed through monthly injections of Adequan starting in 2009, which notably improved her mobility and grip strength.[13] She also received treatments for recurrent urinary tract infections with cranberry juice and acidophilus capsules, and constipation was mitigated with daily prunes, ensuring overall comfort and vitality.[13] Notable health events included precautionary heart tests in 2009 at age 52, prompted by episodes of poor health, which revealed a strong cardiac function and no evidence of disease through non-invasive assessments like ultrasounds.[15][14] Mobility challenges arose around age 47 with cautious movements, addressed via habitat modifications rather than surgical options. In late 2016, at nearly 60, she underwent a surgical biopsy to remove a malignant tumor under her arm, from which she recovered fully, demonstrating resilience against age-related neoplasms.[16][17] Colo's extended lifespan contributed significantly to veterinary innovations in primate geriatrics, including participation in a 2010 diet study at the Columbus Zoo that demonstrated how larger food items encouraged fine motor use in arthritic hands, informing adjusted feeding protocols to minimize scattering and enhance nutritional intake.[13] Her case helped develop non-invasive monitoring techniques, such as those used in her cardiac evaluations, and medication regimens like Adequan for joint health, which have been adapted for other aging great apes in captivity.[13] These advancements underscore the role of proactive, individualized care in extending lifespans beyond wild norms.[18]Family and Descendants
Immediate Offspring
Colo produced three offspring during her reproductive years at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, all sired by her longtime mate Bongo, marking significant milestones in captive gorilla breeding as the first second-generation zoo-born gorillas. These included two females, Emmy and Toni, and one male, Oscar, born between 1968 and 1971. Although Colo did not directly rear her own young, which were hand-reared by zoo staff due to early challenges in maternal-infant bonding observed in the program, her later role as a surrogate mother to grandchildren demonstrated protective and grooming behaviors that informed subsequent rearing protocols at the facility.[4] Emmy, born on February 1, 1968, was the first of Colo's children and the world's first second-generation captive-born gorilla. She lived until June 7, 1982, when she died at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo from peritonitis after being transferred there as a young adult; she did not produce any offspring of her own.[19][20] Oscar, Colo's first son, was born on July 18, 1969, and remained at the Columbus Zoo throughout his life, where he became a key breeder in the program. He sired multiple offspring, including the historic twin males Macombo II and Mosuba in 1983 with mate Bridgette—the first surviving gorilla twins born in the Western Hemisphere—before his death on June 29, 1993, from heart failure at age 23. His reproductive success helped expand the captive population and reduce inbreeding risks in the North American studbook.[10] Toni, the youngest of Colo's direct offspring, was born on December 28, 1971, and lived at the Columbus Zoo until her euthanasia on December 6, 2020, at age 48 due to advanced cardiac disease; she was the last surviving child of Colo. Toni herself became a prolific mother, producing several offspring such as Cora, Kahn, and Zura, and later served as a foster mother to three unrelated young gorillas, further contributing to the zoo's breeding efforts. Like her brother, her descendants played a vital role in diversifying the genetic pool of the North American western lowland gorilla population managed through the regional studbook.[21][22]Broader Genealogy
Colo's extended family tree encompasses a multi-generational lineage that has significantly contributed to the captive population of western lowland gorillas. Her three offspring—born to her and her mate Bongo—gave rise to 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren by 2017, along with three great-great-grandchildren, establishing her as a matriarch whose descendants numbered over 30 at that time.[1][23] Key lineages trace through her son Oscar (born 1969), whose progeny included the historic 1983 twins Macombo II and Mosuba at the Columbus Zoo—the first gorilla twins born in the Western Hemisphere—which Colo herself helped rear, highlighting her role in surrogate parenting within the family. Oscar's line has further branched into multiple breeding individuals, supporting ongoing reproduction in managed populations. Another lineage stems from her daughter Toni, contributing to the proliferation of subsequent generations. These branches illustrate the interconnected pedigree of Colo's descendants, as visualized in a simplified text-based diagram:- Colo
- Emmy (no offspring)
- Oscar → Grandsons (e.g., Macombo II, Mosuba) → Great-grandchildren (e.g., JJ, born 2016)
- Toni → Granddaughters → Great-grandchildren