Friday 21 July 1999

MAX, the gorilla who is a hero in South Africa after tackling a fleeing gunman who jumped into his enclosure last week, was still "a bit groggy but making good progress" yesterday.

Max, who was shot in the neck and shoulder, was well enough yesterday to have his first full meal. A Johannesburg Zoo spokesman said: "Max captured the imagination of everyone with his courageous defence of his territory. People have been sending truckloads of fruit and other food and we have been inundated with messages of goodwill from all over the world."

Many people have also sent cash donations, which will help to build a new, burglar-proof enclosure.

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