By 1947, George Vierheller had already been director of the Saint Louis Zoo for nearly 20 years and felt at ease with his wards. As you can see, he had a certain laissez-faire approach to monkey business. Here, we find Tommy and Cookie taking issue with who really is who at the zoo, while George takes a cigar break. The zoo's website quotes Vierheller as such: Shortly after I became a zoo man, a friend of mine advised me: "George, don't merely sit in the chair and listen to it squeak." So George became a hands-on boss.
You’ll note that he went ape over gorillas as well.
Even in the last year of his position at the zoo in 1962, Vierheller was still making friends and sharing vices.
A bronze statue of him was commissioned that same year, representing the love he shared with the animals.
I Don't Get It 
Amazing. He must have had a special bond because I hear that chimps are likely to rip your face off when they get older and a bit crankier, like me. I suppose nowadays that giving a chimp a cigar is grounds for getting cancelled on the internet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For real. He probably would have been put in his own cage for drugging an animal. But times were free and easy then, when gorillas didn’t need seat belts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet his office really smelled bad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLike
I wonder if the other animals felt neglected, Kerbey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, he played with them as well!
LikeLike