Animal World ‘Stallone’ Eyes Possible Mate : For Colossus, the ‘Gorilla My Dreams’?

Colossus, billed as the largest captive lowland gorilla, got his first glimpse of another member of his species since infancy, a female on loan for breeding. He apparently liked what he saw.

But the match between the 6-foot-2, 570-pound Colossus and 4-foot-8, 274-pound Muke, on loan from the St. Louis Zoo, has a long way to go before it becomes an affair of the soap opera kind.

Colossus’ encounter with Muke on Wednesday was only a glimpse through a small opening between their bedrooms at the zoo in this Pensacola suburb. They won’t be allowed a face-to-face encounter until they show signs of compatibility.

“Colossus has been peeking in through that little porthole over there and been knocking the dust out of the concrete walls,” said zoo Director Pat Quinn. “He’s very excited about this whole affair.”

Both gorillas are about 22 years old, prime breeding age, and each was captured in the wilds of West Africa as an infant.

But Colossus had been separated from other gorillas at Benson’s Animal Park in Hudson, N.H., before moving to the Florida Panhandle in March. Muke (pronounced Moo’-key) has lived with other members of their species.

University of West Florida scientists had been preparing Colossus for Muke’s arrival by showing him National Geographic videotapes of gorillas.

Muke is worldly and sophisticated compared to Colossus, Quinn said. She also has an ornery streak, picking fights even with some male gorillas, and is said to have bitten off a keeper’s finger at one zoo, he said.

Although considered large for a female, Muke may have met her match in Colossus. She watched him cautiously through the peephole in the door dividing their quarters, especially when Colossus ran over and banged on it.

“She’s concerned, I think, about his size,” Quinn said. “He’s the Sylvester Stallone of the gorilla world. Hopefully, he’ll be the Bing Crosby of the gorilla world.”