Ivan the Gorilla - Living the Bachelor Life, Approaching 50
Remember Ivan, the gorilla from the B&I? If you have first-hand memories of Ivan, you’ve probably been around Tacoma for a while. But even if you weren’t here to see Ivan during his 30 years at the B&I, you’ve probably heard stories.
We noticed an update on Ivan from The News Tribune, and we thought you’d appreciate knowing that Ivan appears to be doing well in Atlanta, as he approaches his 50th birthday this year. The TNT reports that according to Zoo Atlanta’s director of PR and communications, although Ivan remains a bachelor, never producing any offspring, he has co-habitated successfully with several females (that’s more than we can say for a few people we know… but we digress). He appears to be a popular guy at the Zoo Atlanta, known for its work with gorillas. Animal rights concerns over Ivan’s conditions at the B&I prompted his owners to donate him to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. He is now on permanent loan to the Atlanta zoo.
In looking for a little more on Ivan, we came across this lovely clip of Ivan enjoying what appear to be idyllic surroundings in his old age.
Happy early 50th Ivan, we’re glad to see you doing so well.
Read a little more from The News Tribune.
Read a 2010 update from Zoo Atlanta.
Filed under: Local Celebrities
6 comments
L lorenew February 20, 2012
WOW! How time flies. I remember Ivan fondly. Glad to hear he’s doing fine. Good to hear someone else is enjoying his “golden years” along with me.
D darlingsapphire February 20, 2012
My goodness, dear sweet Ivan. All
those horrible years you were kept
prisoner for humans’ apathetic
pleasures, and here you are doing
o.k. God will bless you, Ivan for
what you had to go thru.
T tacoma1 February 20, 2012
It’s too bad that the Pt Defiance Zoo couldn’t have kept Ivan. I would like to see him in person again. After all, we are cousins and all that…
V Veronica February 21, 2012
I’m glad Ivan is living a happy life. He caused me to pee on myself when I was a kid but I understand why now. He was mad bcuz he was being held captive. All is forgiven :)
N Nancy February 23, 2012
We visited the Atlanta zoo several years ago and saw Ivan in his fabulous new digs. I didn’t grow up here, and have never been in the B&I, unlike my husband, who did both, and he had to take his glasses off and wipe his eyes, he was so happy to see Ivan in such a cool place. He also loved that we had to stand inside a smaller glassed-in area to look out at Ivan, who was happily romping around in a huge open area. :-)
C Chris Nighswonger February 29, 2012
I am happy to hear about Ivan. Visiting him was definitely a family outing for my generation. The tradition carried on with our children, who also loved to stop in and see him. I can’t imagine that Ivan didn’t sense how he was loved by so many! I was personally sad to see him not placed in Point Defiance Zoo. After all, he was a Tacoman, too. Over the years I have hopped on the web from time to time, searching for news about our dear friend. It is good to know he’s a happy camper celebrating his fiftieth year.