Samantha

Samantha (31st January 1970 - 29th March 2020) was a Western Lowland Gorilla who resided at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Ohio, U.S. She was born on the 31st January 1970 and was the oldest gorilla as well as the oldest primate and oldest mammal residing at the Cincinnati Zoo. Along with Sam, she was one of the first gorillas born at the Cincinnati Zoo. She was born to the founders of the gorilla population at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, King Tut and Penelope and was raised, along with Sam by The Good Samaritan Hospital whence she received her name. She was featured in many articles, photos, postcards. Her first daughter, Madge who was born on the 17th June 1981 was named after zoo volunteer, Madge Van Buskirk. She had a large family including many descendants, she was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt and she had many relations who reside in several zoos across America. For her 49th birthday in 2019, The zookeepers gifted cakes made of fiber biscuits, peanut butter, oats, carrots as candles, raisins and yogurt. The zookeepers also noted that the oldest gorilla (as of January 2019) was 62 years and expressed their desire for Samantha to also reach that age. (however she died 14 months later and fell short of 62 by 11 years and 10 months, she would have had to live to January 2032). On the 13th December 2019, Cincinnati Zoo started a 50-day countdown to Samantha’s birthday on the social media platform, facebook and shared a memory regarding Samantha every day. On the 31st January 2020, Samantha celebrated her 50th birthday. Her keepers gave her a cake comprised of yogurt, fruit, and nutritionally-rich primate chow which she shared with her fellow gorillas, the gorillas were also given forsythia, banana leaves, fiscus, bamboo as well as fresh melons. The gorilla enclosure was modified to assist Samantha in her old age. The modifications included winding staircases, handholds, and the ability for aging gorillas to live all on one level.

She was a mother of 6 and had many other relatives who live across North America. She was also the surrogate mother to several others and has lived with 40 other gorillas during her time at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. She was the oldest mammal ever from Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens and was the 6th oldest gorilla in North America at the time of her death. Samantha also served as an ambassador for both ex situ and in situ gorilla programs and has been trained for awake cardiac ultrasound exams. Author Ron Evans of the Cincinnati Zoo Blog named his daughter Samantha after her. Some of the 40 gorillas Samantha has lived with include Sam, Gigi, Ramses, Kamari, Amani, Rosie, Penelope, Hatari, Tara, Mahari, Bibi, Madge, Muke, Mlinzi, Babec, Ndume, Kweli, Harry, Jackie, Tufani, Colossus, Kima Kubwa, Chaka, Samson, Chewie, Mara, Kijito, Kicho, Cecil, Shanta, Jomo, Bakari, Asha, Anju, Gladys and Mondika. In recent years she has toned back her leadership role, but she is still a respected matriarch.

Samantha died on the 29th March 2020 after being euthanised due to age-related health issues. These include an ageing heart, which the zoo had been treating for over a year. However the medications failed as Samantha’s condition worsened and she was euthanised. Ron Evans, curator of primates said in a statement about Samantha, “Fortunately, she did not appear to be suffering as much as simply losing energy and fading away towards the end with her family around her." Evans also praises Samantha and the zookeepers who looked after her following her death, saying, “She is an inspirational individual and a great example of why we work as hard as we do around here. She was our boss. The keepers who care for her are also inspirational and even during these challenging days, had laser focus on her well-being and went out of their way to see her final days through with expert care and deep compassion. They are my heroes.”

"Right now, it is impossible to imagine that Samantha won't be around anymore, but we are very lucky we have her amazing 50-year legacy to dwell on and celebrate."

At the time of her death, Samantha was the 6th oldest living gorilla is America, after Helen, Ozoum, Choomba and two other gorillas, possibly including Amanda.