 Snowflake, an Albino Gorilla
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Sept. 16, 2003 — Spanish animal lovers are preparing for an emotional farewell to Snowflake, the albino gorilla at Barcelona Zoo, who is fighting a losing battle with skin cancer.
Jordi Portabella, head of the zoo in the Catalan capital, said he hoped as many people as possible would come to see Snowflake one last time, as he was expected to die within weeks, the Spanish press reported on Monday.
"We hope he will survive for a few weeks yet but it's guaranteed he won't go on for months," said Portabella.
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"We don't want to prolong his life unnecessarily or make him suffer," he said of Snowflake, who Barcelona daily La Vanguardia has dubbed the most famous gorilla in the world.
The zoo had resolved to "guarantee him a dignified death."
Xavier Trias, president of the ruling Convergence and Unity coalition in Barcelona's city hall, urged the zoo to allow families to make a last visit to Snowflake free of charge "so they can say goodbye."
Trias pointed out that a visit to the zoo cost a family of four 41 euros ($46) and said a gesture could be made under the circumstances.
Snowflake, the dominant male in the zoo's gorilla group, remains a top attraction there, with his two daughters, Machi and Virunga, and three granddaughters, Nima, Batanga and Mayany.
He receives daily doses of antibiotics and antidepressants to help him cope with the cancer, which has developed over the past two years under his right armpit and necessitated three operations.
According to the zoo's chief vet, Jesus Fernandez, this form of cancer was previously unknown in gorillas and could be due to the fact that Snowflake is an albino.
Snowflake has been at the zoo since 1966 and is believed to be between 38 and 40 years old.
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Name: Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Primary Classification: Hominidae (Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orangutans, and Humans) Location: Western Africa, from southern Nigeria to the Congo River. Habitat: Tropical rainforest. Diet: Fruit, shoots, bulbs, a little tree bark, and leaves. Size: Up to 6 ft in length and 450 lbs in weight. Description: Short, thin, black hair; hairless face; broad chest; muscular neck; prominent brow; flared nostrils; wide, large skull Cool Facts: They recognize each other by their faces and body shapes — each individual has a unique nose print. They are very intelligent and have been taught sign language; the most famous example is Koko, a 31-year-old female with a working vocabulary of over 1,000 signs. Conservation Status: Endangered Major Threats: Deforestation, hunting and trophy poaching. What Can I Do?: Visit the The Gorilla Foundation and WWF's Western Gorilla page for information on how you can help. |
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