One of world's oldest gorillas dies at US park

Vila, one of the world's oldest gorillas has died at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California in the United States.

The park says, just three months after celebrating her 60^th birthday, she died Thursday surrounded by members of her family troop.

She was the matriarch of five generations of gorillas and during her life served as a surrogate mother for several western lowland gorillas, reports AP citing park authorities.

Gorillas typically live to be 35 or 40. They are considered critically endangered because of disease, hunting, war and habitat loss.

Vila had arthritis and other health conditions related to her age and had been under veterinary care.
She was born in the African Congo in 1957. She came to the zoo in 1959 and was moved to Safari Park in 1975.