SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has announced the passing of 52-year-old gorilla, Winston. He was one of the oldest male gorillas in captivity in the world.
Western lowland Silverback gorilla Winston passed away on Saturday, July 13 at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The zoo wildlife alliance says wildlife health and care teams made the difficult decision to euthanize him after complications from his worsening conditions.
According to the zoo, Winston had been receiving significant medical treatments for several age-related conditions like heart disease, degenerative joint disease and kidney disease.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park had been working since 2017 to protect him from heart disease due to his age.
Winston has lived at the Safari Park in San Diego since 1984. He has nine offspring and had even adopted two unrelated male gorillas — an uncommon behavior for silverbacks, the zoo noted.
Winston and his troop were the first known great apes in the world to be diagnosed with COVID-19 in January 2021.
The zoo wildlife alliance said in a statement in part, “the silverback, admired for his quiet strength, was the longtime leader of the gorilla troop in the Safari Park’s Gorilla Forest habitat.”
“Winston’s legacy includes pivotal contributions to gorilla conservation and advancements in wildlife health science. He will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance encourages everyone to share their condolences and support for Winston’s dedicated wildlife care and health team, staff, volunteers, Alliance members and guests, who are deeply affected by this loss.”