VARIOUS SHOTS OF GORILLA AND CAMERAMEN.




Initials JSU/VS/CR/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE ONLY ALL-WHITE GORILLA IN CAPTIVITY WENT THROUGH HIS TRICKS FOR CAMERAMAN TODAY (SATURDAY) AT BARCELONA ZOO UNAWARE OF THE INTEREST CAUSED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS EXISTENCE BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. THE GORILLA, A MALE CALLED NFUMU, HAS COMPLETELY WHITE HAIR, ROSE COLOURED SKIN AND VERY BRIGHT BLUE EYES.
NFUMU IS TWO-YEARS-OLD AND STANDS ABOUT TWO FEET HIGH. SINCE BEING BROUGHT TO BARCELONA FROM SPANISH EQUATORIAL GUINEA HE HAS BEEN SHARING THE FLAT OF VETERNARIAN ROMAN CARPINO WITH A SMALL DOG. OTHER WHITE GORILLAS HAVE BEEN SEEN FLEETINGLY IN THE FORESTS OF SPANISH EQUATORIAL GUINEA BUT NFUMU, WHOSE NAME MEANS "SNOW-WHITE" IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE, WAS THE FIRST TO BE CAPTURED.
THE YOUNG GORILLA, WHO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN FOUND CLINGING TO THE BODY OF HIS MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS SHOT LAST OCTOBER, WILL NOT GO ON SHOW AT BARCELONA ZOO FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS. A FEMALE APE IS TO BE SENT FROM RIO MUNI, IN SPANISH EQUATORIAL GUINEA, TO PREVENT HIM GETTING LONELY.
"AFTER HIS GIRL FRIEND ARRIVES, WE HOPE TO ARRANGE A MARRIAGE BUT WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST FIVE YEARS BEFORE IT CAN TAKE PLACE," SAID A ZOO SPOKESMAN.
HE ADDED THAT NFUMU, WHO WEIGHS 22 POUNDS (10 KILOGRAMS) WAS LIVING ON A DIET OF BANANAS, BREAD, MARMALADE, HARD BOILED EGGS, SOUP AND VEGETABLES.