Max (gorilla)
{{Short description|Western lowland gorilla}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = Max
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| species = Western lowland gorilla
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| gender = Male
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1971|3|6}}
| birth_place = Frankfurt Zoo
| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|5|5|1971|3|6|df=y}}
| death_place = Johannesburg Zoo
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Max (6 March 1971 – 5 May 2004) was a western lowland gorilla{{cite web|url=http://www.joburgnews.co.za/october/gorilla.stm|title=Hopes for a baby gorilla at Jo'burg Zoo|publisher=City of Johannesburg|access-date=24 January 2010}} held at the Johannesburg Zoo who in 1997 was shot and wounded by Isaac Mofokeng,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/315623.stm|title=World: Africa Gorilla criminal sentenced in Johannesburg |date=1999-04-09|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 January 2010}} a criminal who entered his enclosure at the zoo while attempting to evade police.
Max was born on 6 March 1971,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/wounded-gorilla-teaches-thief-a-lesson-in-jungle-law-1251338.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/wounded-gorilla-teaches-thief-a-lesson-in-jungle-law-1251338.html |archive-date=2022-05-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wounded gorilla teaches thief a lesson in jungle law|last=Braid|first=Mary|work=The Independent|access-date=24 January 2010 | location=London | date=19 July 1997}} in Germany's Frankfurt Zoo and died 5 May 2004,{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/what_happening/news/max-gorilla.htm|title=Max the Gorilla dies|last=Moeng|first=Bontle|date=2004-05-06|publisher=South African Government|access-date=24 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904175932/http://www.southafrica.info/what_happening/news/max-gorilla.htm|archive-date=4 September 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.joburgnews.co.za/2004/may/may5_max.stm|title=Sorrow as Max the gorilla dies|last=Bontle|first=Moeng|date=2004-05-05|publisher=City of Johannesburg|access-date=24 January 2010}} at the Johannesburg Zoo.
A bronze statue of Max has been erected near the gorilla enclosure in the zoo.{{cite web|url=http://www.joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2541&Itemid=217 |title=city of Johannesburg - Max the gorilla gets own statue |publisher=Joburg.org.za |date=2008-05-26 |access-date=2013-02-11}}
Makoko, a gorilla from the Münster Zoo in Germany, replaced Max as Lisa's partner.{{cite web|url=http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/383/217/|title=Makoko the gorilla goes public|date=2005-01-20|publisher=City of Johannesburg|access-date=24 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504165535/http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/383/217/|archive-date=2008-05-04|url-status=dead}}
Shooting incident
On 18 July 1997, police surprised Isaac Mofokeng while committing a crime in Saxonwold next to the zoo. Trying to evade police, Mofokeng entered the zoo grounds and the enclosure where Max and his mate Lisa were held. During the confrontation between Max and Mofokeng, Mofokeng was seriously injured and Max was shot twice with a .38 revolver, one shot in the chest and the other in the neck. Three pursuing police officers were also injured during the incident, Constable Robert Tshabalala was bitten by Max on his arm and buttocks, Max broke the arm of Sergeant Rassie Rassenelebroke and Constable Amos Simelane broke his ankle.{{cite web|url=http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/animal/Gorilla_shot_as_fugitive_seeks_refuge_at_the_zoo.html|title=Gorilla shot as fugitive seeks refuge at the zoo|last=Christopher|first=Munnion|access-date=24 January 2010}} Mofokeng was eventually shot and wounded by the pursuing police.
After zoo veterinarians failed to locate and extract the bullets at the zoo hospital, Max was sent for X-rays and surgery to nearby Milpark Hospital.{{cite web|url=http://home.intekom.com/animals/services/news/wildlife/heromax.html|title=MAX THE GORILLA HERO WILL BE OKAY|date=1997-07-19|publisher=Animals.co.za|access-date=24 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606025319/http://home.intekom.com/animals/services/news/wildlife/heromax.html|archive-date=6 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://beeldenstad.net/index2.asp?item=1616|title=Max the gorilla|publisher=Beeldenstad|access-date=24 January 2010}}{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Mofokeng was later convicted of rape, robbery and wounding a gorilla. He received a 40-year sentence,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3686597.stm|title=S Africa mourns crime-busting ape|date=2004-05-24|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 January 2010}} but died in early November 2005 while a patient at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital.{{cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/max-the-gorilla-shooters-death-riddle-257949|title=Max the gorilla shooter's death riddle|date=4 November 2005|publisher=IOL|access-date=20 December 2021}}