Josephine

Josephine was a western lowland gorilla who resided at Metro Miami Zoo until her death in 2017. She was born in the wild in March 1967 and taken to the National Institute of Health. She was transferred on loan to to Metro Miami Zoo in 1983, where she gave birth to her son, Moja, in 1984, who was the first gorilla born at Metro Miami Zoo. Moja was transferred Gladys Porter Zoo, where he fathered several gorillas, including Harambe. Josephine was well-known as the grandmother of Harambe, a gorilla who was shot and killed in 2016 by zoo keepers, in what was a widely unpopular killing. Josephine was euthanized after struggling with years of health problems, said spokesman Ron Magill. She was euthanised on the 18th January 2017 at the age of 49 after she was unable to reach for her favorite treat that morning. After her death, the only remaining gorilla residing at Metro Miami Zoo was 42-year-old Fredrika who was transferred to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. At the time of her death, she was one of the oldest gorillas in North America.