Zola was a 23-year-old western lowland gorilla at the Dallas Zoo, known for his playful personality and internet fame as the “breakdancing gorilla” due to videos of him spinning and splashing in water. He loved water and was particularly known for dancing on slippery wet floors inside his enclosure. Zola was born in 2002 at the Bronx Zoo, moved to Calgary Zoo in 2009, and then to the Dallas Zoo in 2013, where he lived with a bachelor troop of gorillas including his half-brother Shana.
In early November 2025, Zola showed sudden signs of illness such as lethargy and reduced appetite, and despite intensive veterinary care, he passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025. The Dallas Zoo held Zola in high regard for his joyful nature and unique behaviors, and his death is a significant loss to the zoo community. Plans to relocate the bachelor troop to the San Antonio Zoo were temporarily put on hold following his passing. The zoo’s animal care staff and the gorilla troop are being diligently supported during this time.
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