Crime-busting South African gorilla to get memorial

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Max the gorilla, who became a national hero in South Africa for beating up a runaway thief at Johannesburg zoo, will be immortalised in a memorial garden.

The zoo has decided to build the site across the pathway from the gorilla enclosure where Max lived from when he was brought to Johannesburg from Frankfurt Zoo in 1972, until he died in his sleep early in May from complications relating to old age, Johannesburg-based newspaper The Citizen said Tuesday.

The 33-year-old primate became a symbol of South Africa's fight against rampant crime in 1997 when he beat up fleeing thief Isaac Mofokeng who had jumped into his enclosure.

Since catching the thief, Max has grabbed headlines in South Africa and became a major draw at the zoo, as well as a national hero.

"After Max died the zoo was inundated with messages from the public who felt the loss and wanted to be involved in saying goodbye to him," said Sybilla Nagel, an artist involved in building the garden.

"We realised the public needed it," she added.

Johannesburgers were invited to buy tickets that would entitle them to put their handprints in cement steps leading up to a throne with an imprint of Max's hand.