Nico (gorilla) facts for kids
Nico in 2008
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| Species | Western lowland gorilla |
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| Sex | Male |
| Born | July 1961 |
| Died | January 7, 2018 Longleat Safari Park |
| Residence | Longleat Safari Park |
Nico (born July 1961 – died January 7, 2018) was a famous western lowland gorilla. He lived at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, UK. When he passed away at 56 years old, Nico was one of the oldest gorillas in the world. He was the third oldest western lowland gorilla in Europe. People believed he was the fifth oldest gorilla globally. In the UK, he was the second oldest, just behind another gorilla named Babydoll.
Nico's Home at Longleat
Nico had a very special home at Longleat Safari Park. His habitat was on Half Mile Lake and covered more than half an acre. It was designed just for him! His home included cool lookout spots where he could see everything. There were also strong tree trunk climbing frames for him to play on. Plus, he had fun swings made from tyres and nets. It was a great place for a gorilla to live and explore.
A New Start at Longleat
Nico moved to Longleat in the 1980s. He came from a zoo in Switzerland with his partner, Samba. When they first arrived, they had to stay in a special area for six months. This was called a quarantine period. It helped make sure they were healthy before joining other animals. During this time, they even had a television to watch!
Remembering Nico
Longleat Safari Park shared the sad news of Nico's death on January 8, 2018. They announced it on their social media pages. Nico was a much-loved gorilla. He was one of the oldest silverback gorillas in the world. A silverback is an adult male gorilla with a patch of silver hair on his back. Nico died peacefully in his sleep on January 7, 2018.
Everyone at Longleat was very sad to lose Nico. His main keeper had worked with him almost every day since 1989. They had a very strong and special bond. The keeper and the whole team who cared for Nico were heartbroken by his passing. Nico was a truly special animal who touched many lives.
