Cincinnati - 21 February, 2006 -

Isn't that the hulking face of Colossus staring out at people on eBay this morning? It sure is. A 1990 painting of Colossus, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's beloved but standoffish 40-year-old Western Lowland gorilla, is on the auction block for a hefty price. Done by New Jersey wildlife artist Guy Coheleach, whose works have been exhibited in museums in 33 cities, the painting went on the block for an opening bid of $12,695. As of Monday evening, the painting - offered by an anonymous South Florida collector - had 176 hits and no bids. Colossus, once the largest gorilla in captivity (Sunshine in Detroit now holds the title for tallest; Colossus, at 500-plus pounds, is still believed to be the heaviest), moved to Cincinnati in 1993 from Gulf Breeze, Fla. At the time, zoo staffers were hoping that he would breed with the five females in his troupe, but Colossus kept the females at bay by scowling and often snarling and baring teeth. Despite the lack of social graces, he's still a Cincinnati favorite. "Colossus is a showcase animal," said Ron Evans, team leader at the Primate Center. "He has fans all over the country, people who come here just to see him. They walk in and head straight to Gorilla World. "Being on eBay hasn't turned him into a prima donna or anything, but he's still Colossus, and that's very much his own person. That painting of him is wonderful. It's a younger, spryer version - not like today. But then, none of us look as good as we did 16 years ago."

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