TAMPA, Fla. — Busch Gardens announced their 37-year-old gorilla died after his health declined over the past few weeks.
Jim, the western lowland gorilla, received around-the-clock care from veterinary staff at the park, according to a Facebook post.
Staff said Jim was "an attentive father" to his child Whimsey and was known to be protective of the troop.
"While we mourn the loss of Jim, the health and well-being of the rest of the troop remains our primary focus during this difficult time," the post read.
According to the International Fund of Animal Welfare, a nonprofit helping rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, gorillas express a range of emotions including grieving for the dead.
In the wild, gorillas typically live for 30 or 40 years and in human care, they may live into their 50s, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Jim's species is said to be a critically endangered species found in Africa. The cause of their decline is mainly the deadly Ebola virus and poaching, according to the nonprofit World Wildlife Fund.