Beloved gorilla known for his ‘lovable grumpy face’ unexpectedly dies at St. Louis Zoo

A beloved gorilla who entertained guests at the Saint Louis Zoo for nearly two decades died in his sleep, officials said.

The 26-year-old western lowland gorilla named Little Joe had been undergoing treatment for heart disease, and the Saint Louis Zoo said he died of a heart attack overnight Saturday, May 4.

“Joe’s wonderful personality and lovable grumpy face endeared him to all who worked with him,” the zoo said in a Facebook post. “He will be greatly missed.”

Officials said Joe came to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2005, and he quickly “grabbed the heart of all those who saw or met him.”

Zoo guests often saw him interacting with his long-time buddy, Bakari, and he most recently got to know two new gorillas, Kayin and Zachary, who were introduced to the zoo in 2023.

In 2019, the zoo described Joe as “one of the smartest members” of the gorilla group. He earned the nickname “The Professor.”

Joe left an impact on visitors, who shared their condolences on the zoo’s Facebook page.

“Such a sad day,” one woman said. “Many times over the years, our kids would be at the window and Joe would slap at the glass. Such a fun guy.”

“Oh, we loved Joe! He was such an interesting guy to watch — sitting near the outside viewing window, keeping an eye on everything, tossing enrichment items to stir things up, intervening between his fellow gorilla friends when they squabbled,” another commenter said. “My condolences to his keepers!”

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