First gorilla born in captivity dies at 60

Colo, a 60-year-old female western lowland gorilla, the first to be born in captivity has died at age 60.

Colo, the first gorilla to ever be born in captivity has died aged 60. Colo was also the oldest gorilla in the United States.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said Tuesday that Colo died in her sleep, less than a month after her birthday.

She surpassed the usual life expectancy of captive gorillas by two decades.

Zoo president Tom Stalf says Colo inspired people to learn about her species and to help protect gorillas in their native habitat.

Colo was born at the zoo on December 22, 1956. She eventually became a mother of three, grandmother of 16, great-grandmother of 12 and great-great-grandmother of three.

Zoo officials had recently removed a malignant tumour from her but had said she was doing well.

The death of Colo is in stark contrast to that of Harambe, a gorilla, who was put down in a different Ohio zoo last year after a small child got into the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla enclosure.

Harambe was just 17 at the time of his death.