Willy a 45 Year old Gorilla Dies at the Fukuoka City Zoological Garden

FUKUOKA -- A gorilla at a local zoo, who is known for using his own cup to drink water, has died of old age.

Western lowland gorilla Willy uses his own cup to drink water in this photo courtesy of the Fukuoka City Zoological Garden.

Willy, the western lowland gorilla who was estimated to be over 45 years old, spent 43 years and three months at the Fukuoka City Zoological Garden, making him over 80 years old in human terms, according to zoo officials. He is believed to have been the oldest western lowland gorilla in captivity in Japan.

Willy drew attention from visitors after he started drinking water using a cup that a visitor to the zoo accidentally dropped about a decade ago.

He lost his appetite several years ago, and his condition worsened on Jan. 3 this year. Even though he showed sings of recovery at one point, he died on the evening of Jan. 16.

The zoo will soon set up a stand for visitors to offer flowers to Willy.
Story credit here