Zoo Atlanta Mourns Beloved Gorilla, Celebrates New Life

Zoo Atlanta is mourning the loss of Machi, its oldest resident gorilla, who was humanely euthanized over the weekend at the age of 50. Machi had been battling severe and worsening osteoarthritis, along with other health concerns that made recovery unlikely. Her care teams determined that regaining a quality of life free from pain was not possible.

Machi had a significant history at Zoo Atlanta, arriving in 1988 and becoming a mother to two offspring of Ozzie and later Willie B. She had briefly left Atlanta in 2013 but returned in 2021. With her passing, only one of the zoo's original gorilla group, Kuchi, remains.

Despite the sorrow, the zoo is also celebrating a new beginning with the news that Lulu, a 27-year-old western lowland gorilla, is pregnant with her third infant. Lulu is the daughter of the legendary Willie B and Kuchi. The baby is anticipated to arrive during the holiday season, offering a beacon of hope for this critically endangered species.

Western lowland gorillas are facing severe threats in the wild, including habitat loss, poaching, and disease, leading to a drastic decline in their numbers. The zoo emphasizes the importance of both mourning senior individuals and celebrating new life, especially for species at such high risk.