Pierre and Elaine Thivillon, who own a zoo near Lyon, have looked after their ‘little one’ since Digit was abandoned as a baby. The Thivillons, who live just next door to Digit’s cage, took in the 120kg gorilla when her biological mother refused to breast-feed her.
And, what started out as a bit of bottle-feeding turned into a full-time adoption, with the young gorilla having the run of the couple’s apartment. The family album is full of snaps of Digit cuddling up to the Thivillons and even pecking them on the lips. Admittedly, Mum and Dad are a lot less hairy. And smaller. And not half as grumpy. But lack of resemblance aside, Digit the gorilla has always been one of the family. And I’ve forgot to mention – the couple has already spent time living with Digit’s brother, Ginko; but, they had to eventually send Ginko back to the zoo after he started becoming a too aggressive. However, life with Digit is said to be more pleasant.
And, what started out as a bit of bottle-feeding turned into a full-time adoption, with the young gorilla having the run of the couple’s apartment. The family album is full of snaps of Digit cuddling up to the Thivillons and even pecking them on the lips. Admittedly, Mum and Dad are a lot less hairy. And smaller. And not half as grumpy. But lack of resemblance aside, Digit the gorilla has always been one of the family. And I’ve forgot to mention – the couple has already spent time living with Digit’s brother, Ginko; but, they had to eventually send Ginko back to the zoo after he started becoming a too aggressive. However, life with Digit is said to be more pleasant.
