ASHEBORO, N.C. -- The North Carolina Zoo is mourning the passing of Ramar, a silver-back gorilla at the Brookfield Zoo.

Ramar was the North Carolina Zoo’s first-ever gorilla and was euthanized Thursday in Chicago.

Ramar had lived in the city at the Brookfield Zoo since October of 1998. He was, remarkably, 50 years old, having outlived his life expectancy by nearly 18 years, and had been declining in health for some time.

Born in Cameroon, Ramar came to the North Carolina Zoo in July of 1974 and quickly became a favorite of guests and keepers. His first keeper, Bill Parker, took to calling him “Buddy,” and it was a nickname that stuck.

“He loved to interact with our guests,” recalls keeper Chris Goldston. “He would wait for opportunities to ‘spook’ them when they would least expect it by charging the glass while fist-cupping his chest. It was never in a way that he was trying to scare people but a friendly interaction and his special way of connecting.”

“He was a handsome animal,” says keeper Robyn Rousseau. “He would act like a tough guy when he needed to but could also be very sweet. I still have visitors asking me about him.”