Disney's Animal Kingdom Welcomes New Silverback Gorilla, Bakari, Following Loss of Gino
The 21-year-old western lowland gorilla has taken over as the leader of the troop at Animal Kingdom's Gorilla Falls.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has introduced Bakari, a 21-year-old male western lowland gorilla, to lead its troop, stepping into the role previously held by Gino, the park's oldest gorilla who passed away in September of last year.
Bakari officially joined the park on June 30 and has since been observed settling into his new environment. He recently underwent his first routine medical checkup, which included a dental examination, skull X-rays, and a CT scan. As the dominant silverback, Bakari is expected to play a crucial role in guiding and protecting the gorilla family, contributing to a stable troop dynamic.
"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."
Gorilla troops are typically structured around a family unit comprising one dominant male, multiple females, and their offspring. Gino had been a resident at the Florida theme park since its opening in 1998 and lived to be 44 years old.
New gorillas are initially introduced to existing troops through a protected viewing area to monitor interactions. These introductions are then gradually advanced to allow for closer social engagement. Bakari is now housed 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 is part of Disney's commitment to animal care and is supported by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP aims to maintain robust, 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."