World's oldest zoo gorilla Colo dies after living more than two decades longer than expected

The world's oldest zoo gorilla has died aged 60 - after living more than two decades longer than expected.

Colo, the oldest gorilla ever recorded, passed away in her sleep overnight at Columbus Zoo .

She became the first of her species born at the zoo on December 22, 1956.

Her birth made headlines around the world in an era when little was known about conserving the critically endangered western lowland gorilla

Tom Stalf, the zoo's president, said: “Colo touched the hearts of generations of people who came to see her and those that cared for her over her long lifetime.

"She was an ambassador for gorillas and inspired people to learn more about the critically endangered species and motivated them to protect gorillas in their native habitat.”

Colo’s first keeper, a second-year veterinary student named Warren Thomas, was credited for both Colo’s birth and her survival.

He defied orders from the zoo's then-director Earl Davis to keep Colo’s parents, Baron Macombo and Millie Christina, apart.

Despite concerns from Davis that his prized gorillas would hurt each other if kept together, Thomas allowed them to spend time together - eventually leading to Colo's birth.

Thomas also found Colo, still in her amniotic sac, shortly after birth and provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive the lifeless baby.

Her name - short of Columbus Ohio - was the winner of a national 'name the baby gorilla' contest.