Buffalo Zoo Mourns the Loss of Male Silverback Gorilla

BUFFALO, N.Y. – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our male
silverback western lowland gorilla, Koga, who died yesterday morning from a cardiac event.
“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.

Born August 14th, 1987, at the Bronx Zoo, Koga was 36 years old. He lived the first 7 years of
his life in the Bronx Zoo before moving to the Memphis Zoo where he lived for 13 years. He
came to the Buffalo Zoo in April of 2007. While Koga’s death was unexpected, he had been
under veterinary care for heart disease for many years. His age was a testament to the impressive
care our animals receive here at the Buffalo Zoo. The median life expectancy for male gorillas is
32.7 years.

Koga fathered 3 offspring during his 17 years at the Buffalo Zoo, all a part of the Association of
Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP). Two
offspring, Amari (13) and Kayin (8) have recently moved to other zoo’s while Nyah (10) still
resides here with the Buffalo Zoo’s two other adult females, Sidney (26) and Lily (23).
Koga, a silverback gorilla, did a great job leading and protecting his family. Gorillas are highly
social and complex animals that form male-led troops with multiple females. The Zoo’s
remaining female troop will be closely monitored by the Zoo’s animal care staff along with help
from Canisius College’s Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation program. While our team
always takes great care of the animals, these animals will receive even more love and attention
from their care team in the coming days. The Zoo will work closely with AZA and the SSP to
plan the next steps for the troop over the next few months.
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).


To help honor Koga, the Buffalo Zoo asks the community to please share photos and memories
of him to the Zoo’s social media pages. In lieu of flowers and other gifts that are sometimes left
at exhibits, donations made to the Zoo in Koga’s honor will be accepted and used toward gorilla
care at the zoo and in the wild. Tribute gifts can be made by visiting buffalozoo.org/donate.
About the Buffalo Zoo

Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, the
Buffalo Zoo welcomes nearly 500,000 visitors annually and is among the largest tourist
attractions in Western New York. Located on 23.5 acres of Frederick Law Olmsted’s beautiful
Delaware Park, the Zoo provides interactive and educational family experiences throughout the
year. With a diverse collection of wild and exotic animals and more than 320 different species of
plants, visitors are introduced to and engulfed by nature each time they visit. For more
information, visit www.buffalozoo.org.

Buffalo Zoo Mourns the Loss of Male Silverback Gorilla BUFFALO, N.Y