TORONTO, ON, Wednesday, October 30, 2024: Your Toronto Zoo is celebrating the life of a beloved icon, 52-year-old Western lowland silverback gorilla, Charles. Charles passed away late yesterday afternoon (Oct. 29) of natural causes after experiencing significant health issues. Charles has been a revered member of your Toronto Zoo family since opening day in 1974, and has warmed the hearts of our community for 50 years. He will be dearly missed, and his memory will continue to inspire those who knew him to continue the fight against the extinction of this incredible, critically endangered species.
At the end of last week Wildlife Care staff first noted that Charles was not his usual self. He was quiet, had a reduced appetite, was slower than usual to get around and breathing a little quicker and harder. The Wildlife Health team made a presumptive diagnosis of heart failure, and in consultation with experts on the Great Ape Heart project, started him on cardiac medication. Over the weekend Charles rallied, his appetite returning and his interaction with his care staff improving. Yesterday morning Charles was bright and sitting up eating, but he deteriorated suddenly and quickly in the afternoon. A full post-mortem examination is underway and has already confirmed significant changes to his heart.
A True Presence at the Zoo
Charles became an unforgettable part of a Toronto Zoo visit. With his impressive stature (weighing more than 195 kg), wise gaze and majestic silverback, Charles had a true presence – one that left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege to see him. His long life at the Zoo allowed us the unique opportunity to witness his extraordinary journey from a playful juvenile to a protective and wise leader, as he took on the role of silverback guiding his troop with grace and authority. His days were filled with moments of joy, quiet reflection, and family bonds – a testament to the complex social lives gorillas share. His steady and strong presence will be deeply missed by the entire Zoo community.
“I’m so proud of the work our team did to keep him comfortable in his final days with us” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “After some initial signs of improvement yesterday morning Charles’ condition took a sudden turn late in the day and he passed away surrounded by those who cared for him deeply. Charles was more than an icon, he was a member of our Zoo family and a powerful ambassador for his species, and our flags will fly at half-mast to commemorate his life.”
Charles came to the Zoo in 1972, the year it opened
Charles was an orphan when he came to the Zoo from Gabon, Africa just prior to the Zoo’s opening and has become one of the most iconic Zoo residents. He was an amazing father and grandfather to his family, even in his later years where he continued to be vigilant about protecting them and maintaining order in the troop. He proved to be an ideal example of what a silverback represents, siring over 11 offspring and being a grandfather to six, the last one named “Charlie” in his honour.
Honour his memory
To honour his memory, we encourage the Toronto Zoo community of supporters to become Guardians of Gorillas through one of the following ways:
Donate to the newly established Charles Memorial Fund through the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy Wilding Fund – a fund established to support endangered species conservation projects in the wild. To celebrate Charles’ 50th birthday in 2022, your Toronto Zoo announced a $250,000.00 commitment to directly support in situ conservation organizations, including sanctuaries for orphaned animals, conducting programs and projects that raise awareness of the impacts of poaching and trafficking, and support habitat restoration.
Charles Memorial Page
Visit the Charles Memorial page and leave a photo or memory of Charles
Phones over flowers – Donate an old cell phone to the Zoo’s PhoneApes Program to help save gorillas in the wild, guests can drop off old cell phones by the Charles statue in front of the African Rainforest Pavilion
Charles played a vital role in our mission to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. His legacy includes his contributions to the future of his species through the Species Survival Plan (SSP) a collaborative conservation effort among accredited AZA zoos to ensure the survival of the Western lowland gorilla. Though we mourn his passing, we are committed to continuing his legacy as Guardians of Gorillas. Charles may have left us, but his spirit and his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and in the hearts of the millions of guests who visited the Zoo since it opened in 1974.
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