CHICAGO, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Kumba, the first captive-born gorilla at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, has died at age 34 after suffering kidney failure, zoo officials said.
Veterinarians euthanized the gorilla Saturday because of her deteriorating physical condition. The shy western lowland gorilla suffered renal failure in November, lost weight and had stopped eating.
"Losing an animal is the most difficult part of working at the zoo, and it was really tough to say goodbye to Kumba," Zoo curator Robyn Barbiers told the Chicago Tribune.
Kumba was born at the lakefront zoo in 1970, the first offspring of eight young gorillas captured in the wild in central Africa for a captive breeding program.
With 45 births, the Lincoln Park Zoo has one of the world's most successful gorilla breeding programs. Lowland gorillas are extremely endangered in their native habitat from poaching and war.
Kumba had one daughter, Kowali, and two granddaughters who live at the zoo.
