BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Zoo has shared the sad news of the recent passing of their beloved silverback gorilla, Koga.
Koga was born in August 1987 at the Bronx Zoo and joined the Buffalo Zoo family in April of 2007. His death came as a surprise and was related to a cardiac arrest due to a heart disease he had been in care for over the last few years.
“We are all devastated by the loss of Koga,” said Lisa Smith, President and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo. “Our staff always feel the loss of any animal that dies, but it is especially hard when it is a charismatic, intelligent, well-loved animal like Koga who was a staple of our Zoo community. Koga touched the hearts of so many visitors and staff alike, he will be greatly missed.”
During his time in Buffalo, as an ambassador of his species, Koga inspired and impacted over 6 million visitors to the Zoo.
During his time at the zoo, Koga was a father to 3 offsprings as a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP).
Two of Koga's children live at other zoos in the country but one remains in Buffalo, Nyah who is 10 years old and resides alongside two other adult females.
"The population of western lowland gorillas in the wild is critically endangered and has declined by over 60 percent in the past 25 years due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal hunting for the bushmeat trade, and emerging diseases, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)." according to the Buffalo Zoo.
Friends of the zoo and Koga are asked during this time to help celebrate his life by sharing pictures and memories to the zoos social media pages. Gifts, donations, and flowers will also be accepted and used towards the gorilla care at the zoo and in the wild.