Lady was her name. A lowland gorilla who arrived at Al Ain Zoo from Cameroon at the age of four passed away this week at 41. Lady was a beloved fixture of the zoo and a favourite among keepers and patrons alike. After the death of her long-time partner 18 years ago, Lady adopted a long-eared rabbit to cope with the loss. While she might be a part of the animal kingdom, Lady became a part of the zoo family.
Lady’s life demonstrates that zoos still play an important role in society by facilitating the connection between humans and animals. When it comes to primates such as Lady, the connection is all the more profound given the animals’ intelligence and social nature.
The zoo will build a memorial for Lady and the search is on to find another gorilla, but it will be hard to fill the gap she has left in many hearts.
