As of Tuesday, July 24, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
ATLANTA — Atlanta's zoo says its 51-year-old western lowland gorilla is now the oldest known living male gorilla.
Zoo Atlanta says Ozzie is also one of the top 10 oldest members of his species in the world.
Ozzie — whose given name is Ozoum — was born in the wild in Africa in approximately 1961. He was part of a group of western lowland gorillas that came to Zoo Atlanta from Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center in the late 1980s.
Over 25 years, Ozzie has fathered 11 offspring, five of whom still live at Zoo Atlanta. He also has eight grandchildren.
The gorilla collection at Zoo Atlanta also includes three other senior members: 53-year-old Shamba, 51-year-old Choomba, and 50-year-old Ivan. Gorillas are considered geriatric after about 35.
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- Zoo Atlanta gorilla Lulu pregnant, due in spring ( August 23, 2012 )
- Orangutan at Atlanta zoo has cardiac ultrasound ( February 3, 2012 )
- Memorial service set for Zoo Atlanta gorilla Ivan ( August 27, 2012 )
- Scientists investigate why Gorillas in zoos are dying from heart disease ( April 6, 2008 )
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