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| London Zoo's gorilla Bobby dies | London Zoo's gorilla Bobby dies |
| (4 days later) | |
| Bobby the gorilla, who was one of London Zoo's main attractions, has died. | Bobby the gorilla, who was one of London Zoo's main attractions, has died. |
| In a statement the zoo said everyone was devastated at the loss of the much-loved 25-year-old male silverback. | In a statement the zoo said everyone was devastated at the loss of the much-loved 25-year-old male silverback. |
| The central London zoo said their "gentle giant" was found dead in his nest by his keepers early on Friday. | The central London zoo said their "gentle giant" was found dead in his nest by his keepers early on Friday. |
| Bongo Junior, who was known as Bobby, arrived from Bristol Zoo in 2003 and lived in the Gorilla Kingdom enclosure since it opened last year. | Bongo Junior, who was known as Bobby, arrived from Bristol Zoo in 2003 and lived in the Gorilla Kingdom enclosure since it opened last year. |
| The Western Lowland gorilla, whose species is critically endangered in the wild, was described as a "playful but gentle giant" who liked leeks and bananas and disliked spinach. | The Western Lowland gorilla, whose species is critically endangered in the wild, was described as a "playful but gentle giant" who liked leeks and bananas and disliked spinach. |
| Moment's remembrance | Moment's remembrance |
| Ralph Armond, director general of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), said: "Staff, volunteers, members and the general public are devastated by the loss of ZSL London Zoo's gentle giant. | Ralph Armond, director general of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), said: "Staff, volunteers, members and the general public are devastated by the loss of ZSL London Zoo's gentle giant. |
| "Bobby was a much-loved member of the ZSL family and leaves behind his family of keepers and three female gorillas, Mjukuu, nine, Effie, 15, and Zaire, 34." | "Bobby was a much-loved member of the ZSL family and leaves behind his family of keepers and three female gorillas, Mjukuu, nine, Effie, 15, and Zaire, 34." |
| The zoo will be having a moment's remembrance for Bobby on Wednesday 10 December at 1500 GMT, when visitors and staff can pay their respects to the gorilla by laying a wreath in the courtyard. | The zoo will be having a moment's remembrance for Bobby on Wednesday 10 December at 1500 GMT, when visitors and staff can pay their respects to the gorilla by laying a wreath in the courtyard. |
| Gorilla Kingdom, a £5.3m enclosure, which opened on Easter 2007, was the most significant investment at the zoo for more than 40 years and allowed visitors to get close to the gorillas. | Gorilla Kingdom, a £5.3m enclosure, which opened on Easter 2007, was the most significant investment at the zoo for more than 40 years and allowed visitors to get close to the gorillas. |
| The zoo has pledged to contribute £500,000 to conservation of gorillas in the wild from the development of the exhibit. | The zoo has pledged to contribute £500,000 to conservation of gorillas in the wild from the development of the exhibit. |
| Western Lowland gorillas are threatened by poaching and the spread of the Ebola virus in their west African homelands, as well as the destruction of their habitat. | Western Lowland gorillas are threatened by poaching and the spread of the Ebola virus in their west African homelands, as well as the destruction of their habitat. |