Gino the gorilla, a 27year resident of the of the Florida theme park, was an openingday animal and fathered 14 baby gorillas throughout his life. Disney World m

Gino the gorilla, a 27-year resident of the of the Florida theme park, was an opening-day animal and fathered 14 baby gorillas throughout his life.

Disney World mourns 44-year-old gorilla who died at Animal Kingdom: 'Touched countless lives'

Gino the gorilla, a 27-year resident of the of the Florida theme park, was an opening-day animal and fathered 14 baby gorillas throughout his life.

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September 17, 2025 10:03 a.m. ET

Gino; Animal Kingdom. Credit:

Disney Parks/YouTube; AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

- Disney World is mourning the death of a 44-year-old gorilla, Gino, who died at Animal Kingdom.

- Gino had lived at the Florida resort since Animal Kingdom's opening day 27 years ago.

- "Gino leaves behind an incredible legacy" including 14 offspring, Dr. Mark Penning said.

A beloved member of the Disney World family has died, as the company announced Wednesday the death of 44-year-old lowland gorilla Gino, who had lived at the Orlando, Fla., Animal Kingdom theme park since opening day in 1998.

In an emotional statement about Gino's death, Dr. Mark Penning, vice president of Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment division, praised the primate for his contributions to not only the guest experience at the Disney park, but also for being a symbol for the conservation efforts that make up the core of the park's thematic identity.

"We are heartbroken to share the passing of Gino, our beloved 44-year-old western lowland gorilla," Dr. Penning wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of Gino in his habitat.

Animal Kingdom.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Dr. Penning added that "for nearly 30 years, Gino touched countless lives at Disney's Animal Kingdom with his playful spirit, gentle humor, and steady presence as a devoted father and troop leader."****"Gino leaves behind an incredible legacy — 14 offspring, global contributions to gorilla care and conservation, and the lasting memories of every cast member and guest he inspired," he added.

He also offered a somber note on what would've been a landmark birthday for Gino later this year.**

"Though he would have turned 45 this December, Gino's story will live on in the future of his species and in the hearts of all who knew and loved him," Dr. Penning went on. "Thank you, Gino. You will always be part of our family."

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Stunning 'Indiana Jones' ride replacing Dinosaur attraction at Animal Kingdom

** has reached out to Disney World representatives for more information.

Gino helped open Animal Kingdom in 1998, when Disney World unveiled the groundbreaking theme park that the company stressed, at the time, was not a zoo, but rather a theme park inspired by and dedicated to the conservation of wildlife.

Gino was among many different species of animals on display at the park, which also includes rides and attractions themed to intellectual properties like *The Lion King*, *Dinosaur*, and James Cameron's *Avatar* films. An upcoming show is modeled after the *Zootopia* franchise.

Animal Kingdom.

Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty

In 2023, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro told EW on the ground at the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland's World of *Frozen*-themed land that his team was looking into expanding the *Indiana Jones *franchise's presence at Disney World — which was later confirmed to be a themed overlay of the existing *Dinosaur*-themed ride at Animal Kingdom.

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The park is also undergoing further changes to its existing Dinoland area, which will transform in the future into a section themed to Central America, complete with the aforementioned *Indiana Jones* ride as well as a new ride based on *Encanto*.

In other animal news at Disney World, the resort revealed in an internal memo sent to staffers and later obtained by EW in September 2024 that all live dolphins would be removed from the Epcot park's marine life attraction, called the Seas With Nemo & Friends, in October of that year.

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