Good-Bye Jenny

The oldest gorilla in capitivity died today at the age of 55. The gorilla, named Jenny, lived in the Dallas Zoo. She was ethuanized on Thursday night because of an inoperable tumor in her stomach. Jenny already stopped eating and drinking, and studies showed she was unlikely to recover from the tumor. Gorillas in the wild normally live to age 30 or 35, but they can survive years longer in a zoo, with veterinary care and protection from predators. Still, of the roughly 360 gorillas in North American zoos, only four were over 50 as of this spring*.

The new oldest gorilla is 51 year old Colo, who lives in the Columbus Zoo. She was born into captivity.Last month, 43 year old Hercules died in a surgical spine procedure.