Famous Gorillas Trivia Quiz

Answer: Koko

Koko began studying sign language when she was just a year old. Dr. Penny Patterson is her mentor, who taught her ASL. She, along with her friend Michael (who passed away in 2000), understands the human spoken language and can sign to communicate. She was born in the San Francisco Zoo and now (March 2003) lives at The Gorilla Foundation/Koko.org.

Answer: Colo

Millie gave birth to Colo in Columbus, Ohio on December 22, 1956, making Colo the first gorilla born in captivity. Baron Macombo was Colo's father. Koko is famous for knowing sign language.

Answer: Binti Jua & Jambo

In the 1980s a child fell into Jumbo's cage. Jumbo, a silverback, cradled the child in his arms until his caregivers arrived to help the boy. Jambo died in 1992. In 1996, Binti Jua carried a small boy, who fell into her cage, to the door of the cage so her caregivers could help the child. Koola is Binti Jua's daughter. Koola and Binti Jua, as of March 2003, live at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago Ivan is the "shopping mall" gorilla; he lived most of his life in a cage in a shopping mall.

Answer: Snowflake

Snowflake is only one of 2 known white gorillas. One was spotted in the wild in Africa, but he/she is now presumed dead. Snowflake was born in Africa in 1962 and as of March 2003, he lived in Barcelona, Spain.

Answer: He underwent surgery for a brain tumor.

Chicory had a brain tumor removed successfully removed in 1994. He was born May 13, 1985 in New Orleans, and he grew up at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. He died unexpectedly on August 22, 1998 of unknown causes.

Answer: Mac

Mac, Victoria, Mukisi, and Amahoro are the only Eastern Lowland Gorillas who live in captivity. All the other gorillas are Western Lowland; there are no Mountain Gorillas in zoos. Mac lives in Houston Texas, while the other three live in Belgium.

Answer: Digit

Dian Fossey went to Rwanda in the late 1960s. There she founded the Karisoke Research Center. While there, she became particularly close to one gorilla, Digit. Digit was killed by poachers a few years after Dian met him.

Answer: He captured a robber.

In July 1997, Isaac Mofokeng ran into Max's enclosure to escape from the police. Max, a silverback gorilla, protected himself and his mate by attacking Mofokeng. Mofokeng shot Max twice in the chest. Even after being shot, Max pinned his attacker against the wall of his enclosure. Max recovered from his wounds.

Answer: Romina

In 2002, Romina, of the Bristol Zoo Gardens in England, had both cataracts replaced with silicon lenses. Because of the surgery, she can see clearly for the first time in her life. Bongo is Romina's mate.

Answer: Willie B.

Willie B. spent the first 27 years of his life in seclusion in the Atlanta Zoo. In May 1988, he went outside for the first time. He was introduced to other gorillas and fathered many children. Willie B. passed away in his sleep on February 2, 2000.