Hundreds mourn Cincinnati Zoo's gorilla

CINCINNATI, April 12 (UPI) -- Hundreds of people have flocked to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden where Colossus, the famed silverback gorilla, died this week.

A 5-foot by 5-foot card rests on the path to Gorilla World, where patrons signed messages like "Good luck in the trees of monkey heaven."

The 40-year-old Colossus had lived in Gorilla World in Cincinnati since 1993, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Primate Center team leader Ron Evans said Colossus was one of the zoo's top attractions.

"There were so many people who came here because of his charisma, and that helped us educate people on the bigger picture, the plight of gorillas in the wild," said Evans.

Colossus died Tuesday when he suffered a heart attack during a root canal and physical.