The first-ever gorilla born at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has died, zoo officials announced Thursday.
Mrithi, a male silver-back Western lowland gorilla, had recently been showing mobility problems, with spinal issues the likely suspect, according to assistant mammal curator Karen Vacco.
He was born June 1, 1992. The name “Mrithi” means “prince” in Swahili.
He became the silver-back and leader of the group after his father, Mimbo, died in 2005. He sired three sons with female gorilla Moka: Ivan (born April 1, 2013), Frank (May 25, 2018) and Bo (May 11, 2023).
He was also father to female gorilla Charlotte, born last Valentine’s Day after Mrithi mated with another female, Ibo.
“Mrithi was a wonderful father and played often with his boys,” Vacco said. “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.”
Native to the rain forests of the Congo Basin in central Africa, Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered. Their typical lifespan is 30 to 40 years. Mrithi was 31 years old.
