The Death of Mafuka the Ape
A widely retold account of the death of a captive ape at the Dresden zoo, whose apparently affectionate farewell to her keeper was cited by Darwin's supporters as evidence for his theories of animal emotion.
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Burlington Weekly Free Press · February 18, 1876 · Page 1
1 min readDRESDEN
Mr. Darwin finds strong confirmation of his theories in the recent death of the celebrated ape Mafuka, in the zoological gardens at Dresden, whose last movements are thus described: 'As Director Schopf (the director of the gardens) leaned over his favorite, the ape drew him toward her, placed her arms around the neck of her kind friend, and looked at him for some time with clear and tranquil eyes; she then kissed him three times, with short intervals between each salute, motioned to be laid on her couch, gave her hand to Schopf as though bidding farewell to a companion of many happy years, and slept never to wake again.'
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