Colo's Story

Gr 4—6—In 1956, the first gorilla was born in captivity, and her birth has had a dramatic impact on the handling of large primates in zoos throughout the world. Pimm describes how the Columbus Zoo's staff watched and studied Colo's every stage of development. If it were not for the affection they held for her, the tuberculosis scare in the Great Ape House in 1963, when Colo was nearly seven years old, would have resulted in mass annihilation. Veterinarians at Ohio State University recommended shooting "all the infected primates before the disease could spread to more animals." But "because of Colo," the zoo's director said, "I couldn't do it." Instead, Dr. Savoy consulted with various agencies and the animals were given the same TB medicines as those given to humans. Colo grew, mated, and gave birth, as have her offspring and their offspring. She is currently the oldest gorilla in captivity. Dian Fossey visited the Columbus Zoo to share her insights about gorillas. As a result, the caged enclosures were taken down and a habitat similar to that found in the wild was constructed. Black-and-white and color photos appear on every spread, and end matter includes "Colo's Family Tree" and "Colo's Family Scrapbook." This clearly written book will appeal to children interested in zoos and gorillas.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA