Pattycake The Gorilla Dies: results of necropsy pending

Pattycake the Gorilla Dies at the Bronx Zoo at the age of 40

On Sunday, March 31, New York City lost a beloved resident of the Bronx Zoo. Pattycake, who was the first gorilla to ever be born in New York City, lost her life after being under medical treatment for chronic cardiac issues.

It is a sad story for locals who grew up visiting Pattycake. She was a favorite of many people when they would make a family outing to the zoo. Pattycake was headline news when she was born at the Central Park Zoo on Sep. 3, 1972.

“Pattycake was perhaps the best known gorilla at the Bronx Zoo, and an institution in New York City,” said zoo director Jim Breheny. “Millions of children in New York City grew up with Pattycake.”

She was the offspring of two other gorillas named Lulu and Kongo. When Pattycake was born, residents had a say as to what the baby gorilla should be named. The Daily News had let readers send in suggestions and received roughly 33,000 suggested names.

Pattycake was 40 years old at the time of her death, which surpasses the 37 year average life span of a zoo kept gorilla. In 1994, at the age of 22, the already famous gorilla made headlines again by delivering baby twins. Readers of the Daily News once again had a say in what the baby gorillas should be named. The twins ended up being named Ngoma and Tambo.

Pattycake has been the inspiration of two books that were written about her. The first one was titled “Gorilla Baby: The Story of Pattycake.” The other book was titled “Gentle Gorilla: The Story of Pattycake.”

On The Web:

Pattycake, beloved gorilla at the Bronx Zoo, dies at age 40
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/pattycake-gorilla-dies-article-1.1304293