Timmy

Timmy (1959 - 2nd August 2011) was a western lowland gorilla who resided in Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. He was the oldest living male gorilla in North America at the time of his death aged 52. He was succeeded at the oldest male gorilla in North America by Ozoum.

Timmy was born during 1959 in Yaounde, Republic of Cameroon and captured the following year and taken to Memphis Zoo, Midtown, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S, where he stayed until 1966. He was then transferred to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S and resided there for 25 years, from 1966 to 1991. He was then transferred on breeding loan to Bronx Zoo, The Bronx, New York, U.S and resided there for 13 years, from 1991 to 2004. He was retired in 2004, aged 45 and transferred to Louisville Zoological Garden, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S where he was euthanised in 2011 aged 52.

Timmy was captured along with eight other western lowland gorillas by Dr. Deets Pickett, a Kansas City and Cameroon-based veterinarian turned ape capture expert. Pickett, referred to as the "gorilla hunter", pursued the lucrative venture of capturing gorillas for zoos but was also instrumental in learning how to keep infant gorillas alive in transport and in a zoo environment. Pickett also contributed to advancements in great ape husbandry science and the sedation of gorillas with narcotics, as well as transport and extended care in captivity.

Whilst Timmy resided in Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, his keepers introduced him to several prospective mates including Emmy who arrived from another Ohio Zoo and died from a blood disorder and Yogi, a fellow wild born gorilla, who had to separated from Timmy. Timmy showed both indifference and fear of his prospective mates. He then met his mate of 19 months, Kribe Kate for whom he showed interest and affection, however she was determined to be infertile.

In 1991, Timmy was moved to Bronx Zoo as Kribe Kate was infertile and zoo officials hoped Timmy would sire offspring, which he had not done in Cleveland. His move was highly controversial and nearly blocked by animal rights activists in Cleveland and from around the world. Several animal rights organizations hired an attorney who filed a law suit in front of US district court, citing the separation of Timmy and his female companion (imposed by zoo and zoo association officials), was an inhumane and detrimental to his psychological welfare.

According to an article published by international news agency United Press International, Timmy's keepers were afraid the separation from Kribe Kate, who is known as Katie, could harm or even kill Timmy and that the move to New York in a cage in the rear of a truck could traumatize him. At the least, they feared the move might cause Timmy to revert to being introverted and antisocial.

In 1999, the Wildlife Conservation Society opened the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit at Bronx Zoo. The exhibit, which is a 6.5-acre enclosure, provides home to approximately 20 gorillas. The two Bronx Zoo gorilla families, including Timmy's, were amongst the largest breeding groups of western lowland gorillas in North America.

Timmy actually proved to be a more famous in New York City than he was in Cleveland. The celebrity silverback sired more than twelve offspring whilst in residence at the Bronx Zoo, including offspring with Pattycake, the first gorilla born in New York.

In 2004, he was retired and relocated to Louisville Zoo's Gorilla Forest Exhibit, where he would live until his death in 2011. At the time of his death at the age of 52, he was the oldest living male gorilla in North America. He died on the 2nd August 2011 and was succeeded as the oldest living male gorilla in North America by Ozoum, who was 2 years younger than him.