The One and Only, Ivan
The True Story
Ivan was a western lowland gorilla, who was born in the wild. He lived at Zoo Atlanta from 1995 – 2012. From his early beginnings as the “Shopping Mall Gorilla” in Tacoma, Washington, to his time at Zoo Atlanta living among his own species in a naturalistic outdoor habitat, Ivan was a special individual and an incredible ambassador for all gorilla species.
From THE URBAN GORILLA. Produced, written & directed by Allison Argo in 1992 and narrated by Glenn Close, this award-winning film was a catalyst for Ivan's move to Zoo Atlanta. Though Ivan's story is sad one, it ultimately had a happy ending. From Allison Argo: "When I first met Ivan, he was living alone in a tacky, low-end shopping mall. He hadn't seen another gorilla or felt the grass beneath his feet for over 20 years. I knew that I had to bring Ivan's story to the world in hopes of changing his life - and the lives of other gorillas like him."
