Tacoma zoo statue planned for Ivan the gorilla - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

TACOMA, Wash., - The former owner of Ivan the gorilla plans to build a life-size statue of the gorilla to stand outside the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma.

The Metro Parks Board approved the idea last week for a statue that would be privately funded.

Ivan's former owner, Ron Irwin, hopes to raise $200,000 for the statue.

The Irwin family brought Ivan from Africa in 1964 and had him on display at its B&I Store until 1995 when they sold the market and sent Ivan to the Atlanta Zoo.  He died there in August.