Massa - The Worlds Oldest Gorilla Ever

The untimely New Year’s Eve death of Massa – who at one time was the world’s oldest gorilla ever – is clouded in suspicion.

All we know is: (1) on December 30, 1984, Massa’s 52nd birthday, his keepers fed him a “birthday cake” consisting of a 3-foot-high mound of whipped cream and fruit; and (2) within 24 hours, the poor, trusting beast lay dead in his cage. Zoo officials said they couldn’t figure out what caused Massa’s sudden death!

Massa was in de cold, cold ground, but the monkeyshines weren’t over yet. On Christmas Eve 1995, the ape house caught fire. The building lacked proper fire safety equipment, and when the guards smelled smoke they didn’t bother to do anything for more than two hours. 6 gorillas, 3 orangutans and 14 other primates – endangered species all – died from smoke inhalation. (Merry Christmas.)

Fortunately, that’s all in the past. Yes, the monkeys still get a little nervous around holiday time – and who can blame them? But the Philadelphia Zoo has long since cleaned up its act and is now bigger, better and more fun than ever.

In fact, what are you doing this weekend?

Philadelphia Zoo Official Website

Eric Berg Studios (sculptor of the beautiful bronze Massa statue shown above)