Moping

I went to the zoo today and found out Mopie died. It happened this summer while I was away. I know that eye contact was his trademark and he charmed many zoo visitors (sluts). But when we gazed, his head sideways against the glass, I believed it was me. I thought, finally, my animal communication powers are surfacing. We are friends, friends that don't need to talk, perhaps more. Maybe he thinks my golden chestnut hair is beautiful, maybe he wants to eat it. It didn't matter when I went, I could find him. He always looked more dejected then I felt, but still managed to cheer me up with his knock knock jokes.

I will miss him.

Here is the article from the post (photo above from zoo website)

Second Gorilla Death in 3 Days Shakes Zoo

By Martin Weil
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 4, 2006; Page B02

A mature male gorilla died yesterday at the National Zoo -- the second such death in the past three days.

M'geni Mopaya, known as "Mopie," was being introduced to the family group of gorillas that had been headed by Kuja, the gorilla who died Saturday.

"He collapsed and died," zoo spokeswoman Peper Long said of Mopie, who was 34 and had been born at the zoo.

The 460-pounder frequently sat near the glass wall at the front of his enclosure, pleasing visitors by making eye contact.

The staff is "pretty devastated," Long said. "It's a pretty big loss for us."

The cause of Mopie's death was not known, Long said, and final results of an animal autopsy, which began yesterday, could take several weeks. She said Mopie had cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that is a leading cause of death among captive male gorillas.

But as far as the zoo knew, she said, Mopie's condition had not reached the stage of heart failure, and he did not show listlessness or other symptoms.

Mopie had been "very active" Sunday in his indoor and outdoor quarters at the zoo's Great Ape house, Long said.

The zoo's only other adult male gorilla, Kuja, died as surgeons tried to implant a device similar to a pacemaker to improve the functioning of his failing heart.

Kuja's death, Long said, made it important to introduce Mopie to the surviving members of Kuja's group. Gorilla groupings without males tend to experience social problems, she said. The ape house closed yesterday for the often-difficult introductions, Long said.

The zoo's surviving male gorillas are brothers Kwame, 6, and Kojo, 4.