Oldest Gorilla Ever Recorded Dies at 60

Colo 'touched the hearts of generations'
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 17, 2017 3:24 PM CST
Oldest Gorilla Ever Recorded Dies at 60
Colo the Gorilla wears a hat on her head inside of her enclosure, in the Congo Expedition area, during her birthday party at the Columbus Zoo, on Dec. 22, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. Colo, the first gorilla born in captivity, turned 60-years-old to become the oldest living captive gorilla in history.   (AP Photo/Ty Wright)

On Monday, Colo the gorilla was seen by visitors to Ohio's Columbus Zoo toting around a baseball cap—a favorite item of hers, the AP reports. On Tuesday, the oldest gorilla ever recorded died in her sleep, less than a month after her 60th birthday. According to CNN, Colo, the first gorilla born in human care, lived 20 years longer than an average gorilla. In a Facebook post, zoo CEO Tom Stalf says Colo "touched the hearts of generations of people." Colo had recently had a malignant tumor removed but was believed to be doing well. A cause of death is yet to be determined. The zoo plans to cremate her and bury her remains. Colo leaves behind three children, 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. (More gorilla stories.)

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