Gino , a western lowland gorilla and longtime resident of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park , has died, Walt Disney World announced Wednesday. He was 44.

“For nearly 30 years, Gino touched countless lives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with playful spirit, gentle humor and steady presence as a devoted father and troop leader,” Disney World posted on social media accounts.

He was an original inhabitant of Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998. And, at 400 pounds, became an imposing presence on the park’s Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail . He occasionally would stand and dramatically clap his chest.

“Everybody takes notice — his family, our guests, our cast, and it’s really quite spectacular,” Dr. Scott Terrell , director of animal and science operations at Walt Disney Co., told the

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