Our zoo’s gorilla family has welcomed a new member: following the arrival last year of females from Barcelona—as part of the European Species Conservation program—a female western lowland gorilla born at the Frankfurt Zoo has now arrived to join Djumbah, our silverback male.
The arrival of the new female is an important step toward establishing a stable, naturally structured gorilla family, as western lowland gorillas live in family groups consisting of a silverback male and several females.
The transport of 10-year-old Wela went smoothly, and her German keepers accompanied her to ensure a smooth acclimatization.
In the first few days after her arrival, she had the opportunity to explore the outdoor and indoor enclosures, and then, over the course of a few days, she got to know the zoo’s silverback male, Djumbah, as well as the two females, Makena and Akiba, through the bars.
The process of integrating the group takes place in several stages: first with the male, then with a female of the same age, and finally with her mother. This process is particularly important in the case of gorillas, as establishing the group structure and hierarchy can take a long time.
The introduction to the male has already taken place.
This encounter was of particular significance, as the male must demonstrate dominance at this time in order to lead the family group.
According to observations, this encounter went very well, as mating occurred within the first half-hour, which is a favorable sign for future offspring.
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