Powell in Delaware County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Unga
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 22, 2026
1. Unga Marker
On September 11, 2001, an eight-year-old bonobo, Unga, along with another female, Kosana, left from a zoo in Belgium to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to Columbus, Ohio.
Change of flight plans
Late in their flight, the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred. All international flights to the United States were diverted, including Unga and Kosana's plane, which was redirected to Gander, Newfoundland.
Home Sweet Home
Eventually their plane was cleared to fly to the United States and Unga and Kosana both made it safely to Columbus. The Columbus Zoo was so grateful to the people of Gander for their compassion, that they named Unga's first son, "Gander."
Kosana moved on to the Milwaukee County Zoo after a short stay in Columbus and Unga passed away in 2021, but their story lives on.
Gander to the Rescue
During this crisis, the people of Gander immediately came together to help the stranded passengers. They gathered food and supplies, provided places for the passengers to stay and brought fresh fruit and vegetables for the bonobos. In all, the passengers (human and bonobo) were stranded for five days.
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Their plane was diverted to the town of Gander.
Gander is a Canadian town of just under 10,000 people.
Within hours, the town's population almost doubled!
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: 9/11 Attacks • Air & Space • Animals • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 2001.
Location. 40° 9.299′ N, 83° 7.388′ W. Marker is in Powell, Ohio, in Delaware County. It is at the intersection of Riverside Drive (Ohio Route 257) and Glick Road, on the right when traveling south on Riverside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9990 Riverside Dr, Powell OH 43065, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 22, 2026
2. Unga Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: We Care! (within shouting distance of this marker); Jerry O’Shaughnessy Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Habitat is Home (about 300 feet away); Colo (about 300 feet away); Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (about 400 feet away); Major Conservation Threats (about 500 feet away); Saving Bonobos (about 500 feet away); White-Handed Gibbon (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Powell.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
