He was not supposed to be captured but because of his unusual color, his family was killed, and he was taken to be sold. He eventually ended up at the Barcelona zoo, where he spent almost 40 years of his life, becoming a celebrity in the area. The video lets you know that it’s 1997 as Snowflake munches on some food and walk through the grass and into his enclosure. Inside, he lives with a family of other gorillas. There are hammocks and places for them to lounge. He seems quite relaxed as he eats his snacks and looks out at the spectators admiring him. The crowd giggles as one of the other gorillas walks around covered in what almost looks like a blanket but seems to be some kind of nesting material for them to be comfortable. Snowflake is quite nonchalant, continuing to snack on carrots and celery while holding onto one of the ropes in his enclosure. The video zooms in on Snowflake a bit more and you can make out the features of his face a little bit better. The video cuts to a cute moment when Snowflake is up on a higher level, taking a peek at his gorilla friend who is on the floor level, lounging. Then you get another scene of Snowflake and the other gorilla as they’re lying on the floor, looking at each other. They seem ever-curious, completely immersed in the present moment as they get closer and closer, admiring one another. You can hear crowds murmuring throughout the video in the background as the video cuts from scene to scene, showing just how Snowflake lived a snack-filled, leisurely life. At one point, he approaches the glass where children enjoy a very close-up look at this incredible albino gorilla. Then, he walks over to a gate where a worker feeds him with a spoon. Later in the video, it’s 2003 and you got a look at Snowflake again. It appears he’s lost weight. He looks around, holding onto a rope. In this view, you get a better look at his eyes and his facial expressions. He is older now and it’s evident in the way he moves. His energy seems low. In the end, he passed from cancer. However, he did get to enjoy a full life alongside his family.

Up Next, Explore a Few More Gorillas:

Watch A Silverback Flip Off A Bunch of Zoo-goers in Frustration See The Gorilla Who Learned to Swagger Like a Man and Show Just How Similar We Are Watching This Baby Gorilla and Monkey Playing Is Simply Adorable