Virus Kills Molly, Ivan's Gorilla Friend

ATLANTA - Molly the gorilla, who showed shopping-mall gorilla Ivan how to get along with his own kind, has died at Zoo Atlanta.

The 28-year-old, known for her bright red hair and tree-climbing skills, died Friday from an intestinal virus, senior veterinarian Dr. Rita McManamon said yesterday.

Molly was the first gorilla Ivan laid eyes on after he spent 28 years isolated in a cage at a Tacoma, Wash., shopping mall. Ivan was brought to Atlanta in 1994.

On their first date, the day before Valentine's Day 1995, Zoo Atlanta officials placed Molly and Ivan in the same cage, separated by a mesh screen but close enough to touch. Molly flirted with Ivan but was not impressed by the male silverback's strutting and grunting.

When a younger female gorilla was placed in the pen with Molly and Ivan last summer, Molly slapped him on the hand before the two females chased him in circles.

Visitors loved to watch Molly climb the trees, zoo spokeswoman Carol Flammer.

"It's not a typical gorilla thing," she said. "It's typical for young gorillas, but not gorillas in their 20s."

Molly was born in the African nation of Cameroon about 1968, captured in 1970 and taken to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, which lent her to other zoos. She came to Zoo Atlanta in 1991.

Five other gorillas who also became ill from the intestinal virus have recovered. Molly was diagnosed with a chronic auto-immune disease in 1992, and "she just didn't have the immune system to fight" the virus, Flammer said.

Ivan will continue to live with the younger female, Kuchi. The zoo recently started placing the couple together at night in hopes they will mate.