Goodbye Sweet Friend!

Click any image to see a larger version!

I recently heard the news that the beloved silverback gorilla at the Dallas Zoo, Patrick is being transferred soon to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. While a huge favorite of visitors for 18 years, Patrick was not social with other gorillas at the zoo. The move to Columbia is designed to enhance the social structure of the Dallas Zoo’s gorilla troop while giving Patrick a chance to form appropriate bonds with a new troop in South Carolina. It is a mystery why he usually prefers solitude to the company of other gorillas.

I’ve been lucky enough to photograph Patrick several times and think this is a good time to share some of those images. You’ll clearly see that Patrick is quite a personality! This gives me a good reason to hit the zoo in Columbia next time I am in South Carolina!

THANKS PATRICK!