Wednesday, September 25, 2013

11469: Gorillas In Our Midst.

The New York Daily News reported on Patrick, a 430-pound male gorilla being evicted from Dallas Zoo after displaying aggressive, sexist behavior towards female apes. Too bad Patrick doesn’t work in the advertising industry, where sexual harassment, gender discrimination and misogyny are totally acceptable. In fact, the monkeys on Madison Avenue are rarely bounced for such behavior; rather, the victimized females are typically shuttled off with hush money. And if rude simians are expelled, it’s usually with financial backing from cronies for a startup agency.

‘Sexist’ gorilla being kicked out of Dallas Zoo

Patrick, a 23-year-old Western lowland gorilla who was born in the Bronx Zoo in 1990, has nipped at female apes he was to mate with and even bit one, and has belittled others. Patrick will be transferred to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, S.C.

By Lee Moran / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

A “sexist” male gorilla at Dallas Zoo is being evicted and sent for therapy after he bit one female companion and belittled others.

Patrick — a 430-pound Western lowland born at New York’s Bronx Zoo in 1990 — will be moved to Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, S.C., according to ABC 27.

It’s hoped that his new bachelor pad at the resort known for helping primates with behavior problems will bring out his softer side.

Bosses in Dallas said the cranky 23-year-old ape gets along fine with humans, but not with other gorillas.

When he was paired up with females to breed, he instead bit one and nipped at others.

He only had one male pal — Jabari — but he was shot dead in 2004 after escaping and injuring three people, according to the Dallas News.

So Patrick was forced to spend his time alone in his own enclosure.

With Dallas Zoo acquiring two new male gorillas, officials say the time has come to move him on.

“It’s not like we haven’t tried, he’s been here for 18 years,” Dallas Zoo spokeswoman Laurie Holloway told Reuters.

“He’s beautiful and smart and everyone loves him. We’re really sad to see him go, but it’s for the best for the zoo and for Patrick,” she added.

The grumpy beast will at first be separated from Riverbanks’ three other gorillas. Eventually, it’s hoped, he will move in with them to a spacious living area.

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