Port Lympne Proudly Welcomes New Gorilla Family

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park says it is thrilled to announce the arrival of a family of western lowland gorillas which is a species that is critically endangered.

The family of eight gorillas was transferred from sister park Howletts Wild Animal Park and is the second time Port Lympne has welcomed gorillas this year. The Park’s keepers say they are happy with how successful the transfer went. All the animals were checked by vets after being anaesthetized and were then transported in individual crates.

“It is so nice to have another breeding group of gorillas living in the Palace of the Apes again. There are new challenges ahead both for the keepers and the gorillas as we will be mixing the new arrivals with the 3 females that came to Port Lympne several weeks ago. It’s not always easy forming gorilla groups and with so many different personalities and individuals we don’t really know what to expect. I’m sure given time they will sort themselves out and once the hierarchy is established it will become an amazing group. There is lots of room in the enclosure which will help greatly.” Phil Ridges, Head of Gorillas said.

The group of gorillas is headed up by Kouillo an orphaned silverback from the African rainforests who was captured by hunters and later sold to a dealer in the Republic of Congo and finally rescued and housed at Howletts. Joining Kouillo is Tamba who is the sister of Ambam a bachelor who became famous on the internet when a video of him walking upright like a man went viral. Tamba arrived at Port Lympe with her two year old son Kabale who also on occasion walks upright as well.

The new gorilla digs will be in the Palace of the Apes which has been newly refurbished. The group joins three female gorillas already housed in the enclosure since the beginning of November. The previous residents were returned to the wild recently as part of the Aspinall Foundation’s back to the Wild campaign.

In the last two decades gorilla numbers have declined by over 60 per cent s a result of disease and more worryingly, high levels of hunting. It comes as no surprise then that conservation of the species is critical. The group of gorillas that were returned to the wild have adjusted to their new environment and are thriving.