By BJ Austin, KERA Reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-756238.mp3
Dallas, TX – Jenny, the world's oldest captive Gorilla, has died. The Dallas Zoo says she had an inoperable stomach tumor.
The Zoo threw a big birthday party for Jenny in May celebrating her 55th birthday with a special cake made of frozen treats for her. Sean Greene with the Zoo says Jenny is the latest in a string of elderly animal deaths at the Dallas Zoo.
Greene: We have a really good history here in terms of caring for animals into advanced ages; our gorilla Hercules, who was almost 44 years old - very old for a male gorilla. We've had Hildy, the giraffe, the oldest in captivity.
Hildy died a year ago this month. Hercules died last month of cardiac arrest during a medical procedure. KeKe the 39 year old female elephant died in May. And in April the zoo's only lion, Boris, died. Greene says Jenny the Gorilla's appetite was failing. An exam by gastroenterolgists found a significant tumor in her stomach, and she was fading fast.
Her death leaves four gorillas in the Zoo compound, ranging from 9 to 46 years old.