One of the oldest male gorillas living in a US zoo has died at the age of 52.
The gorilla, named Winston, lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California for about 20 years longer than the average lifespan.
The park announced the gorilla’s death on July 13, noting that he had been undergoing “significant treatment for several age-related conditions.”
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Winston’s ailments included heart disease, osteoarthritis and kidney disease.
Winston was 52 years old, nearly 20 years older than the average life expectancy of his species. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
The park said the gorilla was ultimately euthanized “after careful consideration of the worsening complications resulting from his deteriorating condition.”
Care specialists at San Diego Safari Park described Winston as “one of our best pups,” staff told Fox News Digital in an email.
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According to TMX, Winston is a western lowland gorilla who was born in the wild and then adopted by a private owner in the UK.
He arrived at the San Diego Zoo in 1984 and has since been known as a “patient, gentle and caring pack leader,” according to TMX.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has announced that one of its most beloved gorillas, Winston, has died. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
Winston was also recognized as one of the first great apes to be treated for COVID-19 in 2021, when veterinarians discovered he also had heart disease.
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The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in a press release that Winston “will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
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“The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance asks for your condolences and support for Winston’s dedicated wildlife care and health team, staff, volunteers, alliance members and guests, who are deeply saddened by this loss,” the statement said.
The zoo announced that one of the world’s oldest gorillas has died. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance/Getty Images)
Western lowland gorillas typically weigh up to 440 pounds, grow to be as tall as five and a half feet, and are considered critically endangered, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
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These animals are generally known to live in the dense forests and remote rainforests of Africa, but the majority of the population lives in “isolated swamps and remote swampy forests in the Republic of Congo.”
“Gorillas can live between 30 and 40 years in the wild, and with human care can live into their 50s,” the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute reported.
In April, the world’s oldest gorilla, Fatu, celebrated his 67th birthday in Germany, according to the Guinness World Records.
