Mrithi, the silverback western lowland gorilla at Pittsburgh Zoo, died on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the age of 31. Submitted picture

Paul A. Selvaggio

The Pittsburgh Zoo is in mourning after the death of its beloved western lowland gorilla Mrithi, who died at the age of 31 on Thursday of what are suspected to be spinal problems.

Mrithi, whose name means “Prince” in Swahili, was born June 1, 1992, making him the first gorilla to be born at the Pittsburgh Zoo. He became silverback, or leader, of the zoo’s gorillas following the death of his father in 2005.

During his life, he sired three offspring: Ivan, Frank and Bo. The youngest, Bo, was born in May.

Mrithi, the silverback western lowland gorilla at Pittsburgh Zoo, died on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the age of 31. Submitted picture

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