Bakari, New Silverback Gorilla, Settles into Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom has welcomed Bakari, a 21-year-old male western lowland gorilla, who has assumed the role of leader for the park's gorilla troop. His arrival earlier this year followed the passing of Gino, the park's oldest gorilla, who died at age 44 in September of the previous year.

Gino had resided at the Florida theme park since its opening in 1998. Bakari made his official debut on June 30 and has since been observed settling into his new environment.

First Veterinary Checkup

Recently, Bakari underwent his first routine medical examination since arriving at the park. The checkup included a dental examination, skull X-rays, and a CT scan.

As the troop's dominant silverback, Bakari is expected to play a significant part in guiding and protecting the family, thereby maintaining a stable group dynamic. Gorilla troops typically operate with a family structure led by a dominant male, multiple females, and their offspring.

"Bringing Bakari here is bittersweet because it means we've said goodbye to Gino, who was our silverback for almost 30 years since the park's opening," said Rachel, animal care manager with Disney's Animals, Science and Environment. "But it's also incredibly exciting. Bakari is the future of this family troop, and we're looking forward to watching him grow into that role and hopefully help welcome new generations of gorillas for years to come."

Gradual Integration Process

The gorilla care team at Disney implements a gradual introduction process for new gorillas. Initially, new arrivals are placed in a protected viewing area where their interactions can be closely monitored. These introductions are then slowly advanced, eventually leading to opportunities for physical contact and closer social engagement.

Bakari is now residing with the entire troop at the Gorilla Falls within the park's Africa Pavilion. "This is all very new for Bakari," Rachel stated. "Our goal is to help him feel comfortable and confident at every stage. We take the process slowly because building those social relationships with the females is incredibly important."

This initiative aligns with Disney's commitment to exceptional animal care and is supported by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP aims to maintain robust and genetically diverse populations of western lowland gorillas in managed care. "Pairing Bakari with our females can help strengthen the long-term future of the population," Rachel explained. "That's important because we want future generations to be able to connect with these animals and be inspired to help protect them."