The Albino Gorilla

Snowflake, the one and only “white gorilla” ever known to the human race, was found in 1966 by ape specialist, Jordi Sabater Pi.  

He was first seen in the equatorial forest of Nko.  Snowflake was a Western Lowland Gorilla and after being captured at about age two, was sent to the Barcelona Zoo in Spanish Guinea.  While at the zoo, Snowflake was the father of 22 baby gorillas, but only 6 of them made it to adulthood, 3 male and 3 female. 

The great white gorilla suffered from skin cancer which was most likely related to his albinism.  The average wild gorilla lives to about 25 years of age; Snowflake, however, was about 40 years old when he died. 

Sadly, in November of 2003, Snowflake was euthanized.  He will always be remembered and loved by many people as the one and only “white gorilla.”

Wil Woodhouse