Pittsburgh Zoo Celebrates Gorilla's 50th Birthday, World Gorilla Day
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It was a double celebration at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday as they celebrated both World Gorilla Day and a milestone birthday for one of their Western lowland gorillas.
World Gorilla Day, sponsored by Go Ape USA, was celebrated from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Zoo was also celebrating Zakula's 50th birthday. The average lifespan of a Western lowland gorilla in the wild is 35 years.
Zakula got her favorite treat, popcorn, and the Zoo says although she has to take medication for arthritis, she's still able to keep up with the rest of the troop, including her two grandsons.
Today we celebrated #WorldGorillaDay and Zakula's 50th birthday with our troop of Western lowland gorillas! World Gorilla Day at the Zoo was sponsored by @GoApeUSA. #zooforall pic.twitter.com/oc8nBuCB8E
— Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (@PghZoo) September 23, 2018
The Zoo says Zakula is the 7th oldest gorilla in North America and the 4th oldest female gorilla.
Zoo visitors also got to see the zoo's newest gorilla, 4-month-old Frankie, who is learning to move around on his own and explore his environment.
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered.
