WE’LL MISS YOU BIG GUY NICO THE SILVERBACK GORILLA DIES
WE’LL MISS YOU BIG GUY NICO THE SILVERBACK GORILLA DIES
Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie BLOG 10th January 2018
THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
Nico, one of the world’s oldest silverback gorillas, has died at Longleat Safari Park. The 56-year-old great ape passed away in his sleep on Sunday. He spent most of his life at the park in Wiltshire after arriving from Switzerland in the 1980s.
Staff celebrated his birthday in July, giving him a cake made from bananas and courgettes with carrot candles – but they were unsure of his exact age and said there was a likelihood he may have been older than 56.
A spokeswoman for Longleat said on Facebook: ‘Everyone here has been truly saddened by the death of Nico. Nico on his 56th birthday
He loved to eat flowers and he enjoyed foraging for carrots. He wasn’t afraid to stand up to geese.
‘His main keeper has been working with Nico virtually on a daily basis since 1989 and has forged an extraordinarily close bond with him. ‘It goes without saying that he is particularly devastated by the loss along with the rest of his keeping team who have cared for Nico over the years. We’ll miss you, big guy.’
The gorilla, who once tipped the scales at 34 stone, lived on his own island in the middle of a lake at Longleat in a purpose built, centrally-heated house, complete with classical pillars and his own television. He also had a series of lookout stations and giant tree trunk climbing frames where he could sit and watch the antics of the nearby colony of three younger gorillas – brothers Kesho, Evindi and Alf.
The oldest male gorilla in the world lives in the USA and was born in 1961 while the oldest female, who also lives in America, was born in 1956.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE FOR THE DAY
Know your limits, but never stop trying to exceed them
HAPPINESS IS…
Happiness is…banana cake and a hot cup of tea
GRANDAD’S ONE LINER IT’S A CRACKER JOKE OF THE DAY
I’d rather spend ten minutes rearranging the dishwasher to accommodate something than spend 30 seconds washing it by hand.
LOVE IS…
Love is…knowing you have someone to come home to
TRACK OF THE DAY
Highest Chart Position No.1 12th September 1963 for 4 weeks