The Silver Backed Gorilla lives alone on his Island at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire UK since his mate Samba passed away in 2007, aged 47
Taken with an Olympus E-520 DSLR camera

Nico the western lowland gorilla celebrated his 50th birthday at Longleat Safari & Adventure Park in August this year.
It’s believed the landmark birthday means Nico is now the oldest silverback gorilla in Europe and the second oldest male gorilla in the world.

Nico has a gorilla house to himself that, from the outside anyway, could easily pass as a respectable country bolt-hole for many humans. Built in the late Seventiess, Nico’s centrally-heated home is made of brick and seasoned timber, with a tiled roof and pretty casement windows with white glazing bars. On either side of the house, there are two heated verandahs, supported by tree trunks.
Inside, the decor is a little more primitive, with three separate barred cages. He has all the basic home comforts, though. His straw bedding is changed every day and his menu is neatly written up on a white-board, headed ‘Nico’s Diet
Featured in Amazing Wildlife Featurama Jan 2012
Featured in Superbly Visual Feb 2012