PRAGUE ZOO’S GORILLA FAMILY IS ONE. THE NEWCOMERS HAVE JOINED THE REST OF THE GROUP

Newcomers to Prague Zoo, the male, Kisumu, and the female, Duni, met the rest of the gorilla group. Visitors can now watch the six newly united primates in the Dja Reserve pavilion. Pictured from left: females Kijivu, Shinda and silverback male Kisumu. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

“The oldest, Kamba and, somewhat surprisingly, little Ajabu, were the most vocal towards Kisumu. The little male even provoked him; he obviously felt the support of all three females,” said Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo’s director. “Kisumu was reticent if not timid in the first hours and it was only as time went by that he began to assert himself.”

The female Duni was accepted by the group without noticeable difficulties. The one that showed most interest in her was little Ajabu, who demanded attention and pulled Duni’s fur almost immediately after meeting her, which she tolerated with great patience. Duni also met her grandmother, Kijivu and great-aunt, Shinda, for the first time. However, according to the keepers, gorillas don’t sense they have common genes, so it does not particularly show in their relationship.

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After the first night, the situation at the Dja Reserve is calmer, but still not quite normal. “On the one hand, the mood in the group is calmer, as testified to by the fact that Kisumu has already mated with both Shinda and Kijivu. On the other hand, due to this significant change in their regime, the gorillas didn’t want to be closed in their boxes in the rear whilst the exhibit was being cleaned. But it’s just a matter of time,” explained Martin Vojáček, head keeper of primates.

The building of the new hierarchy will now unfurl before the visitors. “Minor tussles are bound to occur, but that too is only natural. With two new gorillas coming to the group, especially a new leader, the social ladder is changing, and the future order must be established,” explained Vojáček. “We’re monitoring the situation closely, but we don’t expect anything more serious,” he added.

Until September of this year, the twenty-five-year-old male, Kisumu, had lived in an all-male group at Schmiding Zoo in Austria. Nine-year-old Duni, who was born to the famous Moya in Cabárcen, Spain, has only recently reached sexual maturity. The European Gorilla Breeding Coordinator recommended they be united, principally for breeding purposes, due to their suitable genes. It will now be possible for Kijivu to have the opportunity to have offspring with Kisumu. With a bit of luck, Prague Zoo could welcome a gorilla baby as early as next year.