Willie B.

"Willie B" redirects here. For the Digi+Phonics member, see Willie B (producer). For other uses, see Willie B (disambiguation).

Willie B.

Willie B. statue at Zoo Atlanta

Born| c. 1957
Died| February 2, 2000(2000-02-02) (aged 42–43)
Resting place| Zoo Atlanta
Residence| Zoo Atlanta
Offspring| Kudzoo, Olympia, Sukari, Kidogo, and Lulu
Named after| William Berry Hartsfield

Western lowland gorilla

Willie B. (c. 1957 \- February 2, 2000) was a western lowland gorilla who lived at the Zoo of Atlanta for 39 years, from 1961 until his death on February 2, 2000.[1] He was named after the former mayor of Atlanta, William Berry Hartsfield. Willie B. was kept in isolation for 27 years with only a television and a tire swing to keep him company. In 1988, he was moved to an outside exhibit and allowed to socialize and raise a family.[2] He then embraced his role as silverback and leader of a troop.[1]

Willie B. was the second Gorilla known by that name at the Atlanta Zoo. The previous Willie B. had died aged 3 shortly before the better-known successor was purchased. Both Willie Bs had been purchased from international gorilla hunter Dr. Deets Pickett of Kansas City. The second Willie B. cost $5,500 to obtain for the zoo. [3]

## Family[edit]

Willie B. fathered five offspring at Zoo Atlanta: Kudzoo, Olympia, Sukari, Kidogo, and Lulu.

## Death[edit]

When he died aged 42-43, he was the oldest gorilla in the United States to have fathered offspring. Kidogo, the only male offspring, took on the name Willie B., Jr. after his father died, taking his place as the heir.

## Legacy[edit]

More than 5,000 people attended the memorial ceremony held in his honor and the zoo now has a life-size bronze statue of him on permanent display outside the Gorilla habitat. His remains were cremated and 80 percent of his remains were kept in a bronze box in the bronze statue at Zoo Atlanta and the other 20 percent were flown back to the African jungle.[4] The Atlanta Silverbacks FC soccer team was named in his honor.

## See also[edit]

* List of individual apes

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Ambassador Willie B." Zoo Atlanta. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
2. ^ "Willie B. is a star again". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
3. ^ "Willie B. Origins" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-01-11.
4. ^ "Willie B. Timeline". Zoo Atlanta. Retrieved 2008-10-24.

* v
* t
* e

Notable non-human apes

* List of individual apes
* List of individual monkeys
* Monkeys and apes in space
* List of fictional primates

Bonobos|

* Kanzi
* Nyota
* Panbanisha

Chimpanzees|

* Ai
* Ayumu
* Azalea
* Bonzo
* Pierre Brassau
* Bubbles
* Cheeta
* Congo
* Enos
* Gregoire
* Gua
* Ham
* Jiggs
* Jimmy
* Jinx
* Jo Mendi II
* Julius
* Kasakela chimpanzee community
* Kokomo Jr.
* Lana
* Little Mama
* Loulis
* Lucy
* Macaco Tião
* Marquis Chimps
* Mitumba chimpanzee community
* Moja
* J. Fred Muggs
* Nim Chimpsky
* Oliver
* Pankun
* Panpanzee
* Sami
* Santino
* Sarah
* Sultan
* Travis
* Viki
* Washoe

Gorillas|

* Alfred the Gorilla
* Babec
* Binti Jua
* Bobo
* Bokito
* Charles the Gorilla
* Colo
* Fatou
* Gargantua
* Guy the Gorilla
* Harambe
* Ivan
* Jambo
* Jenny
* John Daniel
* Jumoke
* Koko
* Kokomo
* Louis
* Massa
* Max
* Michael
* Nico
* Ndume
* Ozzie
* Pattycake
* Pogo
* Samson
* Shabani
* Snowflake
* Timmy
* Titus
* Trudy
* Toto
* Willie B.

Orangutans|

* Abang
* Ah Meng
* Azy
* Bonnie
* Chantek
* Jenny
* Joe Martin
* Karen
* Karta
* Ken Allen
* Manis
* Nonja (Austria)
* Nonja (Malaysia)
* Sam
* Sandra
* Tonda

33°43′55″N 84°22′14″W﻿ / ﻿33.73185°N 84.37057°W﻿ / 33.73185; -84.37057
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