The article used an AP news photo of George P. Vierheller from the St. Louis Zoo with two little gorillas, a male and a female. (I would image that this was a staged photo op, since these two youngsters could probably have torn up the inside of that car in short order.)
If this photo was published in NG in 1940, then the two gorillas would be those acquired by the St. Louis zoo on June 8, 1938.
They were a male named Jackie and female named Coquette. Neither lived long - - the female died on July 20, 1939 and the male on August 1, 1940.
They were a male named Jackie and female named Coquette. Neither lived long - - the female died on July 20, 1939 and the male on August 1, 1940.
The best known St. Louis gorilla, Phil, came to the zoo in September, 1941, after these two. The Zoo had a female gorilla in the chimpanzee show in 1936 and she died shortly after the season. I don't believe she was the Zoo's first gorilla.
Interesting photo for STL historians. From the sign in the background it might have been taken downtown. Just from a small peak at the driver's face it was Willy Raaf, a keeper at the Zoo for 42 years who was often Vierheller's chauffeur.
Interesting photo for STL historians. From the sign in the background it might have been taken downtown. Just from a small peak at the driver's face it was Willy Raaf, a keeper at the Zoo for 42 years who was often Vierheller's chauffeur.
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