Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

31-year-old gorilla dies at Columbus Zoo

POWELL, Ohio – A 31-year-old western lowland gorilla has died at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Zoo officials say Anakka (ah-NOK’-ah) died Thursday after failing to recover from anesthesia administered for a routine medical procedure.

Anakka came to the Columbus zoo in 1993 after being born eight years earlier at a zoo in Philadelphia. He fathered four offspring in Columbus.

The median life expectancy for gorillas in North American zoos is just under 32 years.

Zoo officials said Anakka had a stroke. The official cause of death will be determined from a necropsy.

Assistant zoo curator Audra Meinelt says Anakka was smart, charismatic and special to the zoo.

Seventeen gorillas remain at the Columbus zoo.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles