Winston, One Of The World’s Oldest Male Gorillas, Has Died Aged 52

Winston, a much beloved western lowland gorilla living at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, has died at the age of 52, park officials announced on Sunday.

Believed to be one of the oldest male gorillas in the world, Winston’s passing came around seven years after staff at the zoo noticed his health beginning to deteriorate.

“Wildlife care teams monitoring Winston's heart noticed signs of decline in recent years, and he had been receiving medical treatments for several age-related conditions, including heart disease, degenerative joint disease, and kidney disease,” explained a social media post from the zoo announcing Winston’s passing.

As with humans, it’s not unusual for gorillas to experience such health problems as they age, and not much of a surprise at all considering Winston lived well beyond the average 33-year life expectancy for male gorillas.

“Our medical care for these animals has really advanced over the last 10 to 20 years,” said Lauren Howard, DVM, associate director of veterinary services at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, in a statement from 2017, when Winston first became ill. “So, a lot of our animals are living longer than they used to – and with that comes age-related changes. And Winston’s no different.”

Those age-related changes, however, got progressively worse, with the gorilla and his troop also being diagnosed with COVID-19 back in 2021.

“After careful consideration stemming from furthering complications from his worsening conditions, and with Winston’s quality of life top of mind, wildlife health and care teams made the difficult decision to compassionately euthanize him,” the park said in a statement seen by the San Diego Union-Tribune .

Winston first arrived at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 1984 alongside five other gorillas, eventually fathering nine children and becoming the troop’s silverback. Though his 195-kilo (430-pound) frame may have seemed intimidating to the unfamiliar eye, he was known as a particularly magnanimous leader.

“We often say he is the best of us,” said wildlife care specialist Kelly Casavant in September 2023 . “His level of compassion, and how kind he is, is unsurpassed. We see it with us, but we definitely see it with how he treats the troop members.”

Perhaps the best example of that was when Winston allowed two unrelated male gorillas to join his troop – something that’s pretty unusual for silverbacks to do.

“This gentle giant will be remembered for his quiet strength, easygoing nature, and heart of gold,” reads the park’s social media post.

“[H]is contributions to gorilla conservation will continue to improve the lives of great apes around the world for generations to come.”