Colo (gorilla)

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Colo (Born December 22, 1956) is a Western Lowland Gorilla famous for being the first gorilla to be born in captivity anywhere in the world. She was born at the Columbus Zoo to Millie Christina (mother) and Baron Macombo (father). She was briefly called "Cuddles" before a contest was held to officially name her. Colo's name is derived from the place of her birth--COLumbus, Ohio. Her mother rejected her at birth, so she was hand-raised by the zookeepers like a human child, dressed in clothing and fed from a bottle. When she was two, the zoo decided it was time to find a mate for her. She was introduced to Bongo, a 19 month old male from Africa, and on February 1, 1968, their first of three children was born, a female the zoo named Emmy, after the mayor of Columbus, M.E. Sensenbrenner. Continuing the trend of "award winning names", their next two babies were named Oscar, born July 18 1969, and Toni, on December 28, 1971. Colo has resided at the Columbus Zoo longer than any other animal in the zoo's collection. Colo and her progeny, five of which still reside at the Columbus Zoo, comprise almost one-third of Columbus Zoo's current gorilla collection (as of 2007). Colo just celebrated her 50th birthday (December 22, 2006)--and is currently the third oldest living gorilla in captivity.

On April 25, 1979, Columbus celebrated its first third generation birth as Colo proudly became a grandmother. A contest was held and the baby was named Cora, short for Central Ohio Rare Ape. On January 27, 1997 the Columbus Zoo celebrated the birth of Jontu, Colo’s Great Grandson. A birth at the Henry Doorly Zoo made Colo a Great Great Grandmother in 2003.

Although Colo did not have the opportunity to raise any of her own offspring, she became the first gorilla to surrogate rear a baby in Columbus when she raised the twins, Macombo II and Mosuba. Colo also acted as a surrogate for her grandson, named J.J. after Columbus’ own Jungle Jack; as they share the same birthday. Since that time, there have been 12 gorilla babies in the Columbus Zoo surrogacy program.

[edit] Genealogy

Listed in order of birth (within generation) Children (2nd generation):

  • Emmy (1968-1982)
  • Oscar (1969-1993)
  • Toni (1971- )

Grandchildren (3rd generation):

  • Cora (1979- )
  • Kahn (1980-1980)
  • Roscoe (1980-1981)
  • O.J. (1981- )
  • Zura (1981- )
  • Lang (1982-1983)
  • Macombo II (Mac*) (1983- )
  • Mosuba (1983- )
  • Motuba (1985- )
  • Mwelu (1986- )
  • Colebridge (1987-1994)
  • Jungle Jack (1987- )
  • Norman (1988-1988)
  • Jumoke* (1989- )
  • Nkosi (gorilla) (1991- )
  • Cassie* (1993- )

Great-grandchildren (4rd generation):

  • Timu (1995- )
  • Jontu (1997- )
  • Muchana (2000- )
  • Dotty* (2004- )

Great-great-grandchildren (5th generation):

  • Bambio (2003- )
  • Baina (2005- )

[edit] Story of the toy keys

Colo once came into the possession of a child's ring of plastic keys while she was in the outdoor gorilla exhibit. When Colo was offered a treat in trade for the set of keys she was unwilling to accept the keeper's terms. Instead she broke the ring holding the keys and then traded each key individually for a treat--getting many more treats than the keeper had planned to give!