 Copito de Nieve, the albino gorilla. Floquet de Neu (c. 1964 – November 24, 2003) was an extremely rare albino gorilla, the most popular resident of the Parc Zoològic de Barcelona in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Image File history File links SnowflakeGorilla. ...
Image File history File links SnowflakeGorilla. ...
November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair. ...
Type Species Troglodytes gorilla Savage, 1847 Species Gorilla gorilla Gorilla beringei The gorilla, the largest of the primates, is a ground-dwelling herbivore that inhabits the forests of Africa. ...
Barcelona is the second largest city in the Iberian Peninsula, capital city of Catalonia and the province with the same name. ...
Capital Barcelona Official languages Catalan, Spanish, Aranese Area – Total – % of Spain Ranked 6th in Spain 32 114 km² 6,3% Population – Total (2005) – % of Spain – Density Ranked 2nd in Spain 6 995 206 15,9% 217,82/km² GDP Total (2004) GDP: €157,124 billion GDP per /capita: $26,550...
He was originally named Nfumu Ngi (Fang, "white gorilla"), then later on nicknamed Snowflake by National Geographic magazine, and then translated as Copito de Nieve (Spanish) and Floquet de Neu (Catalan). ...
The National Geographic Society was founded in the USA on January 27, 1888, by 33 men interested in organizing a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge. ...
Catalan IPA: (català ) is a Romance language, the official language of Andorra and co-official in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Valencia (under the name Valencian) and Catalonia. ...
Snowflake was a Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). The only albino gorilla known, he was captured outside Nko, Rio Muni (now Equatorial Guinea) on October 1, 1966, by Catalan primatologist Jordi Sabater Pi. Rio Muni (called Mbini in Fang), mainland geographical region of Equatorial Guinea, covering 26,000 km². Rio Muni was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778. ...
October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...
Capital Barcelona Official languages Catalan, Spanish, Aranese Area – Total – % of Spain Ranked 6th in Spain 32 114 km² 6,3% Population – Total (2005) – % of Spain – Density Ranked 2nd in Spain 6 995 206 15,9% 217,82/km² GDP Total (2004) GDP: €157,124 billion GDP per /capita: $26,550...
Primatology is the study of primates. ...
Jordi Sabater Pi was a Catalan primatologist during the 1960s. ...
He lived at the Barcelona Zoo in the Parc de la Ciutadella. He was known worldwide, mentioned in tourist guides and put on postcards, becoming a mascot for the city. Some of his pictures make it look like he is grimacing; this is in fact him merely squinting due to his pigmentless eyes and bright lights.
He became a main character in the novel Memòries d'en Floquet de Neu (Snowflake's Memories), by the Catalan writer Toni Sala. Sabater Pi also dedicated a book to the gorilla, under the title Floquet per sempre (Snowflake Forever). He also makes a brief appearance in Italo Calvino's novel Mr. Palomar. Italo Calvino (October 15, 1923 – September 19, 1985) was an Italian writer and novelist. ...
Snowflake's fame also helped to promote awareness of the endangered gorilla. "If we do nothing there will be no more gorillas in 30 years," Sabater Pi said, at the presentation of his book.
During his life at the zoo, he fathered 22 offspring (6 survived to adulthood) with three females, and lived to see his grandchildren. None of his offspring were albino. His last son, Urko, died in August 2003.
He was thought to be between 38 and 40 years old; the average lifespan of a wild gorilla is 25. He had suffered since 2001 from an unusual form of skin cancer, possibly relating to his albinism, and it was announced in September 2003 that he was dying. Thousands visited the zoo to say goodbye before he was euthanised in November 2003. In medicine (dermatology), there are several different types of cancer referred to under the general label of skin cancer. ...
2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for September, 2003. ...
Euthanasia (Greek, good death) is the practice of killing a human or other animal, in a painless or minimally painful way, for merciful reasons, usually to end suffering. ...
2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for November, 2003. ...
A memorial fund for bursaries into primatology was started in Floquet de Neu's name. Primatology is the study of primates. ...
Floquet de Neu was also featured on the cover of a Basement Jaxx album called Rooty. Basement Jaxx are a critically acclaimed UK house music duo, comprised of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, that rose to popularity in the late 1990s. ...
Rooty is the second album by the British house duo Basement Jaxx, released in 2001. ...
External links
- Floquet de Neu - official website
- Albino gorilla dies in Spain (MSNBC)
- Parc Zoològic de Barcelona (press release in Catalan section)
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