Thread: Colo, the World's First Gorilla Born in Captivity, Is Dead

The miracle baby turned matriarch was 60 years old



Siixty years ago, a tiny gorilla made its debut at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. Her name was Colo, and she wasn’t just any primate: She was the first ever to be born in captivity. The adorable baby grew into a formidable matriarch, but now the animal who captured the imagination of conservationists and charmed the American public is no more. As the Associated Press reports, Colo is dead.

At one time, Colo was the world’s most famous animal celebrity, and her birth made headlines around the world. And though the beginning of Colo’s life was noteworthy, it wasn’t supposed to happen in the first place. A part-time zookeeper and veterinary student at the Columbus Zoo decided to let two gorillas, Baron (Macombo) and Millie (Christina), hang out together without permission. They ended up mating and Millie became pregnant. Then one day, the zookeeper, Warren Thomas, saw something on the floor of Millie’s cage. It was an amniotic sac with a nearly dead baby gorilla inside. Thomas gave the baby mouth-to-mouth and Colo miraculously survived.





Read more: Colo, the World's First Gorilla Born in Captivity, Is Dead | Smart News | Smithsonian
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Wow...What a beginning to that story...RIP, Colo...

Originally Posted by misskit

Then one day, the zookeeper, Warren Thomas, saw something on the floor of Millie’s cage. It was an amniotic sac with a nearly dead baby gorilla inside. Thomas gave the baby mouth-to-mouth and Colo miraculously survived.