Copito de Nieve, the white gorilla, captivated the world for years with his striking appearance—a completely white coat due to albinism. But those who lived alongside him insist his story goes far beyond his looks.
Manolo, a caretaker with over three decades of experience working with primates, vividly recalls the reality of the Barcelona Zoo’s most iconic animal. “Everyone remembers Copito for his white color, but I remember his eyes, his gaze, his smell, and his affection,” he says in a TikTok video. Having spent 13 years with the famous gorilla, Manolo aims to debunk several myths that have surrounded Copito de Nieve for decades.
One common belief is that the gorilla “turned his back” on visitors. Manolo argues it was not a sign of disdain or rejection. “He had photophobia and photosensitivity due to his albinism,” he explains. The animal was simply protecting his eyes from light, as his condition caused vision problems.
He also dismisses rumors that the zoo attempted to breed another white gorilla through electroejaculation, artificial insemination, or specific pairings. “None of that was actually done,” Manolo states. Copito lived peacefully with a stable group of three females and one of his daughters.
Contrary to claims of aggression, Manolo describes Copito as a “distrustful” animal, likely because of cataracts from his albinism, but insists he was “a great male” to his family and zoo staff. “He was a wonderful father to Virunga and a loving grandfather to his granddaughters,” he recalls.
Beyond the media image, Manolo treasures the daily bond they shared. “When I arrived in the morning and greeted him, I wasn’t greeting a white gorilla. I was greeting Copi,” he says.
His final reflection sums up how he wants Copito to be remembered: “White on the outside, gorilla on the inside.”
