• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Genuine Kentucky

Kentucky Pictures, Events, Restaurants

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
      • Advertise
    • Facts About Kentucky
      • Kentucky Geography 101: Where is Kentucky?!
      • Kentucky’s Lakes (Listed Alphabetically)
    • Famous Kentuckians
    • Kentucky Birds
      • Joys of Bird Watching
      • Bird Watching: Keeping a Journal
      • Backyard Birds Love Water!
      • Create a Backyard Bird Watching Haven
      • How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
    • Kentucky Food
    • Kentucky History
    • Sitemap
  • Pictures
  • Restaurants
    • Best Catfish Restaurants
    • Best Pizza in Ky
    • Best BBQ in Ky
    • Bowling Green Restaurants
    • Gluten Free in Kentucky
    • Kentucky Lake Restaurants
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Owensboro, Gluten Free
    • Owensboro Restaurants
    • Where to Eat Lunch in Owensboro
  • KY State Parks
    • Carter Caves State Resort Park
    • Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
    • Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
    • Kenlake State Resort Park
    • Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
    • Lake Barkley State Resort Park
    • Rough River Dam State Resort Park
    • Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
    • Pine Mountain State Resort Park
    • John James Audubon State Park
    • Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
    • More Kentucky State Parks
  • Things to Do
    • Grand Rivers Variety
    • Kentucky State Parks
    • Kentucky Lake
      • Kentucky Lake Pictures
    • Land Between the Lakes
      • Elk & Bison Prairie
      • Golden Pond Planetarium
      • The Homeplace
      • The Nature Station
      • LBL Pictures
        • Elk and Bison Prairie Pictures
    • Windy Hollow Campground and Speedway
    • Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
    • Smothers Park and Owensboro’s Riverfront
    • The Hitching Post
  • Events
You are here: Home / Archives for Timmy the Gorilla

Happy Birthday, Timmy!

January 9, 2009 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Timmy, The Louisville Zoo Gorilla

Happy Birthday, you living doll! The gorgeous western lowland gorilla pictured in this post is the oldest male gorilla in North America. His name is Timmy and I’m beyond mad about him. He’s the pride and joy of The Louisville Zoo and he’s having a birthday – He’ll turn 50 on January 17th. Is that a milestone or what?!

From The Louisville Zoo:
Timmy, a western lowland gorilla, will be celebrating his special milestone indoors at Louisville Zoo’s Gorilla Forest on Saturday, January 17.

The party begins at 11 a.m. when Timmy will be given a custom-made ice sculpture cake created and donated by Galt House Hotel and Suites Executive Chef Brian Riddle. Other gorillas will also be celebrating the momentous occasion with special treats, and gorilla keepers will be available throughout the day to interact and take questions from guests.

In celebration of Timmy’s milestone and the Zoo’s recent announcement as the No. 1 zoo in North America for cell phone recycling efforts in 2008, visitors and families who bring and donate an old cell phone to the Zoo during the month of January and February get a special discounted admission rate of $5 per person. Zoo members as well as children 2 and under enter free.

“We hope people will come out and celebrate with us,” Gorilla Forest Supervisor Roby Elsner said. “Timmy is definitely special, and this day is an important testament to the wonderful care our animals receive at the Zoo.”

Louisville Zoo’s award-winning Gorilla Forest is on the forefront of gorilla management and meets the demographic trends of current gorilla populations like geriatric gorillas.

“With the extraordinary care our animals receive, the Zoo has an important role to play in caring for an increasing number of aging gorillas” Elsner said. “Gorilla Forest is a great home for Timmy because this unique facility allows close keeper contact with him all day long and the freedom for him to make choices about his environment that can increase his comfort, like staying inside or going outside.”

Born in 1959, Timmy is a laid-back silverback adored by female gorillas in his group which currently includes Paki, Mia Moja and Kweli. Before arriving at Louisville Zoo in 2004, Timmy lived at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Bronx Zoo.

The Louisville Zoo has a total of 11 gorillas including Helen, 51, who is the third oldest gorilla in North America (there is a tie for first at age 53), and Timmy who ties for the fourth oldest gorilla overall in North America. There are a total of 355 gorillas currently housed in 52 Zoos in North America (168 males and 187 females).

Click the pictures below (as well as the one at the top) for larger versions. When cropped, they make gorgeous wallpapers for your computer’s desktop. I love having Timmy look over my work – but my cat Alexa isn’t too sure what to make of him.

The bottom picture might be my favorite – love that face!

Timmy, The Louisville Zoo Gorilla
Timmy, The Louisville Zoo Gorilla

Happy birthday, Timmy and congratulations to the Louisville Zoo for being such an exceptional zoo. We’re very fortunate to have the Louisville Zoo… as are the animals!

Filed Under: Events, Louisville, The Louisville Zoo Tagged With: Louisville, Louisville Kentucky, The Louisville Zoo, Timmy the Gorilla

Welcome to Genuine Kentucky!

Genuine Kentucky is a Kentucky Blog and online magazine celebrating the beautiful Bluegrass State. We shine the spotlight on Kentucky with pictures, restaurant reviews, news, tourism, Things to Do in Kentucky, and more.

We’re proud Kentuckians and the non-profit effort you see before you is a labor of love.

E-mail me anytime!

Kentucky Blog Updates

Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground

Playground at the Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground I recently told one of my daughters, "I have never been THIS … [Read More...] about Kentucky State Park Campgrounds Preparing to Open March 13

Christmas at the Homeplace (Land Between the Lakes)

As we often say on this Kentucky blog, the end of summer in NO WAY means the end of things to do and see in Kentucky. So grab … [Read More...] about 1850 Christmas at the Homeplace: Are You Ready to Meet Santa?!

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park's Lodge (Facing Kentucky Lake) From the Kentucky State Parks: Current and former … [Read More...] about Kentucky State Parks Offering Discounts to Current Military, Retirees, Veterans

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Salt Festival.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site wants to take you back in time during the 37th annual Salt Festival next weekend (Oct. … [Read More...] about Salt Festival at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site October 18-20, 2019

Red Wolf at Woodlands Nature Station Woodlands Nature Station, in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, will … [Read More...] about Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station October 5 -11!

Civil War Days

If you're a Civil War buff, you'll want to be at Columbus-Belmont State Park during the weekend of October 11-13! The … [Read More...] about Civil War Days Weekend at Columbus-Belmont State Park (Oct. 11-13)

There's going to be a Pickin' Party at the Homeplace and you're invited! Philip Steinmetz, great nephew of Grandpa Jones, … [Read More...] about Homeplace Pickin’ Party at Land Between the Lakes 2019

Pulled BBQ Pork takeout from Moonlite

The Kentucky 100 (a new, twice-monthly publication that delivers 100-word stories and short videos to subscribers) asked … [Read More...] about Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in Kentucky (Picked by Kentucky 100)

Follow Genuine Kentucky on Twitter!

Tweets by @GenuineKentucky


"When reading about a Kentucky event, please be sure you check the date. Old events are not always deleted from the website. If you have an event you'd like to see on Genuine Kentucky or a 'Made in Kentucky' food or product you'd like reviewed, please contact us! " ~ Joi ("Joy")

Fraley Music Festival
Maddox
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Trail Through the Forest

Kentucky News and Events

  • Kentucky State Park Campgrounds Preparing to Open March 13
  • 1850 Christmas at the Homeplace: Are You Ready to Meet Santa?!
  • Kentucky State Parks Offering Discounts to Current Military, Retirees, Veterans
  • Salt Festival at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site October 18-20, 2019
  • Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station October 5 -11!
  • Civil War Days Weekend at Columbus-Belmont State Park (Oct. 11-13)
  • Homeplace Pickin’ Party at Land Between the Lakes 2019
  • Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in Kentucky (Picked by Kentucky 100)

Kentucky State Parks

We have a special passion for Kentucky State Parks, so you'll find many articles and reviews centered around the beautiful state parks in Kentucky.

A personal goal is to visit, photograph, and enjoy each and every one of our state parks and eat at each of the state resort parks. Make no mistake about it, we're well on our way!

Bird Watching in Kentucky!

One of our greatest passions is birds and bird watching is an absolute favorite pastime. If you love our feathered friends and want to learn more about bird watching and attracting birds to your own backyard, be sure to check out our section dedicated entirely to Kentucky birds.

Kentucky Restaurants and Reviews

Kentucky Restaurant Reviews

Where are the best Kentucky restaurants?! Find out in our Kentucky Restaurant Reviews.

Also See: Best Fried Catfish in Kentucky
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Kentucky Blogs Database

If you have a Kentucky Blog - or you're simply a Kentuckian who blogs! - you might want to consider adding your blog to a new KY Blogs Database. It's run by "one of us," as in a fellow Kentuckian! Click the link to check it out. I've added Genuine Kentucky and will be adding my other blogs as well.

Kentucky Pictures

Kentucky Pictures
Check out the beautiful Pictures of Kentucky in our photo albums!

Advertising & Reviews

If you are interested in advertising on Genuine Kentucky, please contact us: e-mail Joi Sigers.

Also, if you have a resort, condo, golf course, restaurant, or even a cup of coffee (LOVE coffee!) you'd like for us to review, please contact us at joi@genuinekentucky.com.

Genuine Kentucky Disclaimer

We do not work for any Kentucky service or organization. We are simply proud to have been born and raised in the greatest state in the country and are thrilled to call it home. This site serves as our tribute to Kentucky and its warm and wonderful people. Our mission is to bring more travelers to Kentucky and keep more Kentuckians home! See our Privacy Policy.
Copyright Genuine Kentucky 2017