A new gorilla has arrived at ZSL London Zoo as part of an international breeding programme for the critically endangered species.
Kiburi, an 18-year-old western lowland silverback, weighing 193kg, travelled 1,903 miles from Zoo Loro Parque in Tenerife by DHL Express on November 18 in a custom-built crate.
He has been brought over to join the zoo's females Mjukuu and Effie, along with youngsters Alika and Gernot, in a match-making effort to further increase the zoo's gorilla population.
Gorilla keeper Glynn Hennessey said: “Kiburi enjoyed an in-flight meal of nutritious leafy greens, snacked on leeks and a banana and had a refreshing drink of cold fruit tea during his first-class trip.”
He was given a check-up by vets on arrival at the zoo and shown his new Gorilla Kingdom home, a lush private island, with hidden caves, a giant jungle gym and a flowing stream.
Kiburi will be introduced to the females before Christmas, and currently ventures into the indoor play-gym and tests out the area’s rope swings.
Following the death of London Zoo’s male Kumbuka in 2018, staff began searching for a replacement.
They worked with the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme co-ordinator for Western lowland gorillas, which holds detailed records on each animal.
“We wanted to find a gorilla to lead the troop in Kumbuka’s stead, which is an important part of a healthy gorilla group’s social structure,” said Glynn.
They flew out to meet Kiburi, "a playful but authoritative silverback who had just come of age", last November spending five days watching how he interacted with other gorillas.
“We found him to be a calm, friendly individual and a great fit for our own gorilla family’s dynamic," she added.
London Zoo's zoological operations manager, Dan Simmonds, said: “Western lowland gorillas are sadly declining in the wilds of central and western Africa and face threats from poaching, disease, deforestation and climate change."
He said ZSL protects the species by taking part in global breeding programmes and also investigating wildlife diseases at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology.
“In time we hope to hear the pitter patter of tiny gorilla feet once again in Gorilla Kingdom – adding to the dwindling population numbers of this critically endangered species.”
Roy Hughes, EVP network operations & aviation Europe at DHL Express said transporting Kiburi to London was "a huge privilege" and logistically "no mean feat".
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