The first-ever gorilla born at the Pittsburgh Zoo died this week.
The silverback western lowland gorilla named Mrithi died during a medical procedure this week. He was 31-years-old.
Mrithi was born in the Pittsburgh Zoo on June 1, 1992. He also had four baby gorillas of his own.
Zoo officials say he was one of their more popular animals.
“Mrithi was a wonderful father and played often with his boys,” said Karen Vacco, Assistant Mammal Curator. “It wasn’t unusual to arrive in the morning to happy rumbles (gorilla laughing) coming from the gorilla bedrooms to find a ball of rolling gorillas with Mrithi in the middle. His favorite thing in the summer was to roll in the pool then tumble in the grass to dry off.”
