Claire Cameron is a novelist, essayist and author of the forthcoming memoir How to Survive a Bear Attack. This piece was assembled using quotes from articles and remembrances of Charles, the wild-born western lowland gorilla, who lived at the Toronto Zoo from 1974 until his death on Oct. 29, 2024.
Charles
An orphan from Gabon his family were attacked it is believed that Charles was discovered lying next to his mother shot dead by poachers
A huge western lowland this critically endangered species has lost 80 percent of its population in the wild
A pillar of the zoo community he grew to weigh nearly 430 pounds nostrils are large and flaring his particularly round face reminded the staff of Charlie Brown
Charles was an accomplished painter the back of his big hairy hand as a brush his abstract expressionist paintings were framed
He’d linger there didn’t like when the donkeys or alpacas would walk past afraid of toads he hated tall men
Gorillas love sweet stuff never seen him turn down a banana smacks his lips leaves the broccoli and cauliflower to the end
A captive ape on display there is poignancy almost heartbreaking over 10 offspring, grandfather to six the last of whom is named “Charlie”
He was moving more slowly 70 percent of deaths in captive male gorillas are from heart disease his breathing grew laboured he died surrounded by his keepers
I am conflicted I remember looking into his eyes it was difficult to see intelligent beings in what is essentially a gilded prison he was beautiful so stunning so majestic swinging on his tire actually quite shy very peaceful observant even humorously tolerant an enormous presence he has touched our lives he will be deeply missed I will not forget him.