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One of the world’s most famous gorillas died recently in Rwanda at the age of 35.  Titus, also known as the Gorilla King, starred in the popular Dr. Dian Fossey 1988 film “Gorillas in the Mist.” The silverback gorilla was also featured in a BBC documentary “Titus - The Gorilla King.”

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Named after a character in a book, Titus was born on August 24, 1974.   Fossey described Titus as “underdeveloped and spindly” at birth, Titus had difficulty breathing and his mother reportedly treated the young primate with indifference. At a young age, poachers killed his father, uncle and younger brother.   But despite a rough start in life, it is believed Titus fathered more offspring than other gorillas in the Virunga Mountains.  The legendary gorilla was studied and observed by researchers throughout his entire life.

According to officials, the 450 pound primate had been in ill health recently and died of old age on September 14, 2009.   After an autopsy was performed, a standard procedure for Rwanda mountain gorillas, his body was carried down the mountain on a stretcher by 10 porters.   In a special ceremony, Titus was buried in the graveyard near Fossey’s cabin in Karisoke.  Fossey, who was murdered in 1985, is also buried there, along with her beloved gorillas.

Mountain Gorillas

Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix I of CITES, it is estimated that fewer than 700 mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, remain in the wild today in two isolated populations.  Once hunted for their meat, skulls and paws, other threats include habitat loss, war and instability.

Mountain gorilla photo Hendrik Dacquin

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