Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino enjoys some solitude, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with the younger gorillas, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, forages in the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with the younger gorillas, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino tolerates some insubordination from younger gorillas during a family meeting,, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail keeps an eye on visitors at the habitat at Disney?s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Dirt flies as Gino deals with rambunctious younger gorillas,, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail munches on a snack at the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla.,, Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, watches over 11-month-old Lilly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in their habitat on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, in the park, Jan. 11, 2011. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail munches on a snack at the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla.,, Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with the younger gorillas, Dec. 29, 2021, at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, sits with his family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail keeps an eye on visitors at the habitat at Disney?s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch western lowland gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoys a bouquet of lettuce in his habitat at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on the eve of his 41st birthday, Dec. 29, 2021. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest of the troop at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, munches on a snack at the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla.,, Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, forages in the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the patriarch of the western lowland gorilla troop at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, forages in the habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in Bay Lake, Fla., Sept. 23, 2019. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Gino, the 42-year-old elder statesman of the western lowland gorillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom enjoys an afternoon nap at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail habitat, May 17, 2024. Disney announced Wednesday that Gino has died. At 44, he was the oldest gorilla at the Walt Disney World park and had resided at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)