Renowned ethologist and primatologist Jordi Sabater Pi passed away on August the 5th at the age of 87.
Dr. Sabater developed most of his research in Equatorial Guinea, where he worked as Director of the Animal Experimentation and Adaptation Centre in Ikunde from its opening in 1960 until Guinea’s independence in 1969.
During those years, he worked closely with the Barcelona Zoo and carried out field work which ensured him great prestige worldwide. Some of his most important work lies in the research on behaviour and ecology of chimpanzees and the discovery of the ability of these primates to make tools and hand down these techniques from one generation to another. His research on the goliath frog, the largest anuran on the planet, and his research on the honey guide bird had a great impact on the scientific community.
However, it was chance that brought him fame: In 1996 he discovered the only albino gorilla ever to be found. This gorilla was named Copito de Nieve (Snowflake) and he became the emblem of Barcelona and its Zoo.
After 1969, when Dr. Sabater left Guinea, he became part of the Barcelona Zoo staff and worked as curator of the Terrarium and the primates until 1985.
The entire team at the Zoo will always have fond memories of him.
