March 23, 2012 > US zoo gives aging gorilla a bunny companion US zoo gives aging gorilla a bunny companion Submitted By AP Wire Service ERIE, Pennsylvania (AP), Mar 09 - An elderly gorilla that lives at a U.S. zoo has a new companion: a bunny named Panda. The Erie Zoo's gorilla, Samantha, has been without a full-time friend since the death of Rudy, a male gorilla, in 2005. But officials at the zoo in Pennsylvania say the 47-year-old gorilla is too old to be paired with another gorilla. So they decided last month to introduce her to the rabbit last month. The Erie Times-News reports that Samantha and Panda get along well. Samantha will gently scratch under the bunny's chin and share her food. Officials at the zoo say Samantha has always had a gentle personality.