Vernon the bonobo, the oldest mammal at the Cincinnati Zoo, has died at the age of 50, the zoo announced.Vernon died on Monday, the zoo said. He had been a resident at the zoo since 1992. He was named after a primatologist named Vernon Reynolds, who founded the Budongo Conservation Field Station.Vernon has sired 17 offspring since 1978, with eight of them born at the Cincinnati Zoo.He now has 28 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.”He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched, especially his care team,” the zoo said. “He was a great role model to all of the youngsters – tickling and gently playing with the babies and then wrestling and playing chase with them when they grew older. His bright eyes and famous head wiggle warmed many hearts and inspired many to care about this endangered species.”Zoo officials say bonobos are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to deforestation and poaching, so each birth is critical to this species survival.The zoo holds an annual cellphone recycling program to help the endangered species. Cell phones have Coltan in them, which is mined in endangered bonobo habitats in Africa.To learn more, click here.
Vernon the bonobo, the oldest mammal at the Cincinnati Zoo, has died at the age of 50, the zoo announced.
Vernon died on Monday, the zoo said. He had been a resident at the zoo since 1992.
He was named after a primatologist named Vernon Reynolds, who founded the Budongo Conservation Field Station.
Vernon has sired 17 offspring since 1978, with eight of them born at the Cincinnati Zoo.
He now has 28 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
“He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched, especially his care team,” the zoo said. “He was a great role model to all of the youngsters – tickling and gently playing with the babies and then wrestling and playing chase with them when they grew older. His bright eyes and famous head wiggle warmed many hearts and inspired many to care about this endangered species.”
Zoo officials say bonobos are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to deforestation and poaching, so each birth is critical to this species survival.
The zoo holds an annual cellphone recycling program to help the endangered species. Cell phones have Coltan in them, which is mined in endangered bonobo habitats in Africa.
To learn more, click here.