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Bronx Zoo Mourns Ntondo: Beloved Blind Gorilla Passes Away

2/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Bronx Zoo announced the death of Ntondo, a 32-year-old blind western lowland gorilla, due to an acute cardiac event.
Ntondo gained fame after appearing in the 2017 Animal Planet docuseries THE ZOO, which documented his glaucoma and blindness.
Despite his condition, he fulfilled his silverback role in his group.
Ntondo arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 2014 as part of a program to support gorilla populations.
The zoo currently houses 12 gorillas.

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Story summary

The Bronx Zoo announced the death of Ntondo, a 32-year-old blind western lowland gorilla, due to an acute cardiac event.
Ntondo gained fame after appearing in the 2017 Animal Planet docuseries THE ZOO, which documented his glaucoma and blindness.
Despite his condition, he fulfilled his silverback role in his group.
Ntondo arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 2014 as part of a program to support gorilla populations.
The zoo currently houses 12 gorillas.