Officials announced Tuesday that Vernon, a 50-year-old bonobo and longtime resident of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, has died.
His cause of death was not shared by the zoo.
Named after primatologist Vernon Reynolds, Vernon first arrived at the zoo in 1992 and called Jungle Trails home since 1993.
"He was a great role model to all of the youngsters – tickling and gently playing with the babies and then wrestling and playing chase with them when they grew older," the Cincinnati Zoo posted on social media. "His bright eyes and famous head wiggle warmed many hearts and inspired many to care about this endangered species."
As of January, Vernon was the oldest mammal at the Cincinnati Zoo and the oldest male bonobo known to be in human care.
Vernon has also sired 17 offspring since 1978, with eight born at the Cincinnati Zoo. His last child Amali, with companion Kesi was born in 2020. He also had 28 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, as of January.
There are eight other bonobos remaining at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Bonobos, also called the pygmy chimp, are smaller than the common chimpanzee and are the closest living relative to humans, sharing more than 98% of their DNA. They are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's "Red List" due to deforestation and poaching, according to the Cincinnati Zoo.
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