The Resume

(March 6, 1971-May 5, 2004)
Born in Frankfurt Zoo, Frankfurt, Germany
Sent to the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa (1972)
Became famous when robber Isaac Mofokeng entered his enclosure while trying to evade police (July 18, 1997)

Why he might be annoying:

Mofokeng reported, 'The first thing the gorilla did was rip my jeans and bite me on the buttocks.' (Sounds kinky.)
He also injured three of the policemen chasing Mofokeng, biting one, breaking another one's arm, and breaking the third officer's ankle.
Johannesburg police later presented him with a bulletproof vest -- which turned out to be several sizes too small for him.

Why he might not be annoying:

Zoo officials said he was probably protecting his mate, Lisa.
He kept Mofokeng pinned to a wall despite being shot by him in the chest and jaw.
He took a third bullet from the police.
He recovered fully after x-rays and surgery at a local hospital.
He became a symbol in South Africa of resistance against the country's spiraling crime rate.
A statue of him was erected at the Johannesburg Zoo.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 49]
• I am South African
• I Assaulted a Cop
• I Died in 2004 (Ranked: 33)
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 33)
• I Survived a Bullet to the Head
• I Took a Bullet
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Menagerie of Animals
• Primates
• Profiles 34501-34750 (Ranked: 34679)
• Watch Out! I Bite

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 41 Votes: 43.90% Annoying