The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a 580-acre wildlife exhibition center, water park, golf resort and aquarium located in Powell, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. It attracts millions of visitors a year because of its nearly 600 animal species on exhibit, lush environments, interactive-themed animal experiences and the family entertainment options it provides. It is continually rated the No. 1 zoo in the U.S., because of its programs and expert leadership under “Jungle” Jack Hannah. One major draw to the Columbus Zoo are the primate exhibits, specifically the gorilla compound and one little lady named Colo.

Colo was the matriarch of the gorilla ambassador and breeding program at the Columbus Zoo. She was the first-ever gorilla born in captivity on December 22, 1956, to her parents Millie Christina (Millie) and Baron Macombo (Mac) who were captured from the wild in French Cameroon, Africa. The zoo paid for and acquired the pair of western lowland gorillas with the hopes of starting a responsible breeding program in 1951. At first Millie and Mac did not appear attracted to each other, and it was purely by luck and an insubordinate zoo staff member that Millie became pregnant.

The zookeeper of Millie and Mac, Warren Thomas, defied orders to keep the two gorillas separated based on fears of them injuring each other since there had been scuffles between the two in the past. At various times, he secretly allowed them to be together at night and as nature would allow, Millie became pregnant with little baby Colo. It was soon announced, to much fanfare, that the Columbus Zoo was expecting gorilla babies to be born!

Colo, her name is a combination of “Columbus” and “Ohio”, was born at a mere 4 pounds, and came into the world in a precarious situation. She was encapsulated in her amniotic sac when she was delivered and almost did not survive. It was the quick thinking and skill of the veterinary staff at the zoo that kept her alive. Zookeeper Warren Thomas intervened, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive Colo. After serving at the Columbus Zoo, Thomas went on to become director of the Los Angeles Zoo for 16 years.

Because of Colo’s extreme birth emergency, she was hand-reared by zookeepers at the beginning. This practice is now left up to the captive held mothers. Only in extreme cases where a mother refuses the baby or in a case such as Colo’s, a surrogacy program can be utilized where a zookeeper will hand raise the infant for a short period, then a structured reintroduction to the troop is developed.

Colo lived a pampered live at the zoo, as she was the “Grande Dame” of the primate collection. She wanted for nothing and was given the absolute best veterinary care that an animal could receive. Colo provided many years of research and study opportunities for the zoo and other scientists. She was very popular with guests as she was loved by millions and will be missed by them too. I recall visiting the Columbus Zoo many times and seeing her as she interacted with the other gorillas. The zoo does a magnificent job of telling her story to the world as they are proud of their wonderful girl. She has touched many lives, and her legacy will continue forever.

On what would unknowingly be her last birthday, on Dec. 22, 2016, she was made queen for a day. Celebrities such as Betty White and Wayne Newton sent congratulatory messages to her; the public did as well using the Twitter hashtag #ColoGorilla. Colo also received many presents from the zoo staff, which were mostly her favorite food treats such as clementines, apples and tomatoes. She also received enrichment items such as baseball caps, boxes, raffia paper and flowers. Also, the birthday-girl received six edible gorilla-friendly cakes that were dubbed “Six Decades of Decadence” in honor of her 60 years. When Colo arrived to her birthday party, the area in her enclosure was festooned with colorful paper chains, and she wrapped herself in those. You could sense the love and happiness she felt as she explored her gifts, cake and toys. She smiled.

After the zoo staff and visitors sang “Happy Birthday” to Colo, she played with her new toys and visited with zoo patrons in her habitat. The humans in attendance also enjoyed traditional cake in the zoo’s food court to celebrate! Sixty years is quite an accomplishment, and as Colo aged, she had been separated from the rest of the gorilla troop at the zoo. The zoo insists this was her choice. She had a full view of her family in an adjacent enclosure nearby and she was happy with that.

Colo died in her sleep in the early morning hours of January 17, 2017. The actual cause of death is pending a necropsy; however, in late 2016, zoo veterinarians surgically removed a mass from her body that was thought to be malignant. Colo outlived all other gorillas and is the oldest known gorilla in the world!

She was a mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother to many gorillas at the zoo, and since her birth, approximately 30 gorillas have been born at the zoo. Colo was the mother of Emmy, Oscar and Toni. Emmy was the first second-generation gorilla born in captivity. Toni gave birth to Cora who was the first third-generation gorilla born in captivity. Colo’s son Oscar sired Mac and Mosuba in October 1983. Colo was a mother of three, grandmother of 16, great grandmother of 12 and great-great grandmother of three. When she became a great-grandmother to Timu in 1996, she became the first surviving captive-born gorilla to have lineage produced by artificial insemination. These are amazing facts and figures that are a testament of the enriched, loving, safe and responsible environment the Columbus Zoo fosters for their animals.

Colo’s life served as a valuable experiment, one which will live in history as a success. Her unprecedented length of life has helped scientists discover new ways to help prolong gorilla longevity in the wild. Through her death, many more will live. Specifically, because of responsible breeding and conservation programs, gorilla populations are on the rise. However, the gorilla remains an extremely endangered species. As told by the Columbus Zoo, there are almost 350 gorillas in zoos that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. AZA’s mission statement declares that it is dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science and recreation. Organizations accredited by the AZA are held to high standards in the areas of animal welfare, cleanliness, safety and health.

The Columbus Zoo and many others that have gorilla programs are working together to ensure the species is healthier and more vibrant than ever before. However, in uncontrolled settings, habitat conservation and species education are two of the main things needed to ensure that gorillas do not actually become extinct. Poaching is also a major concern. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, approximately 5 percent of the remaining population of western lowland gorillas are killed each year for bush meat or during the capture of baby gorillas for pets. Timber companies have also invaded the gorilla’s natural habitat, increasing the likelihood of deforestation and the spread of disease. Ebola, the nearly global pandemic that struck in 2014, is thought to be transmitted across nearly all species of primates. The risk of Ebola is higher in natives who slaughter gorillas for food, improperly cook it and then consume the tainted meat.

According to a press release from the zoo, speaking of Colo’s passing, Columbus Zoo assistant curator Audra Meinelt stated, “She was the coolest animal I’ve ever worked with and caring for her was the highlight of my career. It was not just about what she meant for the gorilla community but for whom she was as a gorilla. I’m heartbroken but also grateful for the 19 years I had with Colo.” This is evidence to Colo’s personality, her very existence and her ultimate sacrifice.

Finally, for Colo’s many adoring fans, the zoo has erected a memorial outside the entrance gates for those to pay their last respects and to leave notes of encouragement for her caretakers and staff. The zoo states that Colo’s remains will be cremated and kept at an undisclosed location on zoo property. It surely will not be the same the next time I visit the Columbus Zoo, as going to see the primate exhibits was a highlight of my trips there. I look forward to visiting however, to pay respects to Colo and thank the zoo for their continued dedication to animal research and welfare.

For more information about Colo, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium or to make a donation in Colo’s honor, please visit: https://give.columbuszoo.org/colo