Gorilla Dies at Zoo Atlanta
Incident Date:
09/15/2026
Location:
Atlanta, GA - USA
Facility Name:
Zoo Atlanta
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Primates
Animal:
Gorilla
Animal disposition:
Dead
Summary:
ATLANTA, GA – Zoo Atlanta said Tuesday it is mourning the loss of a 50-year-old gorilla named Machi. The zoo said she had “been living with chronic osteoarthritis that had become increasingly severe” and that “a recent physical examination identified other serious health concerns that carried a poor prognosis and significantly diminished the likelihood of meaningful recovery.”
She was the mother of Willie B. Jr., the son of Atlanta’s famed late Willie B., and was one of only two living members of Zoo Atlanta’s original group of gorillas.
Action take by Born Free USA:
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