Overview

• Charles, a 52-year-old western lowland silverback gorilla, passed away at the Toronto Zoo after experiencing significant health issues.
• He was diagnosed with heart failure and placed on cardiac medication but his condition deteriorated quickly on Tuesday afternoon.
• Charles had been at the zoo since its opening in 1974, having been brought from Gabon, Africa as an orphan.
• Over his lifetime, Charles sired 10 offspring and became a grandfather to six gorillas, contributing significantly to his species' conservation.
• The zoo has established a memorial fund in Charles' memory to support conservation projects and has invited the public to share memories and images of him.