Before arriving at Brookfield Zoo in October 1998 at age 30, Ramar resided at several other zoos. He was considered the dominant male, or the silverback of the gorilla group, for many years.

Ramar, a western lowland gorilla who was the first gorilla at the N.C. Zoo and a popular resident of the park for 20 years, has died at a zoo in Chicago.

The gorilla named Ramar came to the North Carolina Zoo in July of 1974. His first keeper, Bill Parker gave him the nickname “Buddy,” which stuck. Related: NC Zoo Has More Visitors, Needs More ...

BROOKFIELD, Ill. — A 50-year-old gorilla that was one of the oldest gorillas in a North American zoo has died. The Chicago Zoological Society says Ramar, a western lowland gorilla living at th… ...