Born in the Belgian Congo he was captured by missionaries and given as a present to Captain Arthur Phillips, who named him "Buddy" and was extremely fond of him. A drunk freighter accidentally scarred the ape's face with acid and the Captain gave Buddy to Gertrude Lintz, an eccentric socialite and animal lover and her husband Dr. John Lintz. He grew to over 450 pounds and too large for the Lintzs to care for. He was bought by John Ringling, who renamed him Gargantua because of his large size and scarred face. Ringling put Gargantua on display at his circus and billed him as "The Largest Gorilla in World" and saved The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus from bankrupcy by attracting millions of visitors. Despite being given special care and attention, Gargantua died from double pneumonia in 1949. His life story and that of Massa another gorilla who belonged to Mrs. Lintz, inspired the 1997 movie, "Buddy".
Born in the Belgian Congo he was captured by missionaries and given as a present to Captain Arthur Phillips, who named him "Buddy" and was extremely fond of him. A drunk freighter accidentally scarred the ape's face with acid and the Captain gave Buddy to Gertrude Lintz, an eccentric socialite and animal lover and her husband Dr. John Lintz. He grew to over 450 pounds and too large for the Lintzs to care for. He was bought by John Ringling, who renamed him Gargantua because of his large size and scarred face. Ringling put Gargantua on display at his circus and billed him as "The Largest Gorilla in World" and saved The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus from bankrupcy by attracting millions of visitors. Despite being given special care and attention, Gargantua died from double pneumonia in 1949. His life story and that of Massa another gorilla who belonged to Mrs. Lintz, inspired the 1997 movie, "Buddy".
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