[2][3] Snowflake was captured in the Río Muni region in Spanish Guinea on 1 October 1966 by Benito Mañé, a farmer of the Fang people.

Mañé then kept Snowflake at his home for four days before transporting him to Bata, where he was purchased by primatologist Jordi Sabater Pi.

[4] Originally named Nfumu Ngui in Fang language ("white gorilla") by his captor, he was then nicknamed Floquet de Neu (Catalan for "little snowflake"[5]) by his keeper, Jordi Sabater Pi.

[11] Barcelona Zoo director Antonio Jonch wrote: "The eye had a blueish sclera, a normal cornea, and a light blue iris which was very transparent to transillumination.

The animal displayed marked photophobia, which caused it to close its eyes repeatedly when exposed to bright light.

[citation needed] In 2001, Snowflake was diagnosed with an unusual form of skin cancer, almost certainly related to his albinism.

After he began losing interest in his usual activities, isolating himself from other gorillas and exhibiting signs of pain, Snowflake's keepers decided to euthanize him.