Western Gorilla Family Added To The Milwaukee County Zoo

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI—The Milwaukee County Zoo welcomed three Western lowland gorillas. Oliver, Nadami and Dotty were transferred on Tuesday from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, according to a news release.

Animal care staff say all three gorillas are doing well in the off-exhibit quarantine area. (All arrivals to MCZ spend at least 30 days in quarantine for their health and safety.)

Currently, the Milwaukee County Zoo is home to two male gorillas, 29-year-old Maji and 26-year-old Hodari. Maji and Hodari are half-brothers, who have the same mother, and have spent most of their lives together. Bachelor groups like Maji and Hodari are necessary in Zoo populations to provide the social needs of other non-breeding males. They will be managed and cared for as a separate group, and won’t be introduced to Oliver’s troop, the release said.

After the quarantine period, the new gorillas will be slowly and carefully introduced to their off-exhibit areas, and then eventually to the habitats in public view. Because Oliver is hearing impaired, the entire process may take several months or more, and animal care staff will move forward at his pace and comfort level.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered. Habitat loss and deforestation have historically been the primary cause for declining populations of Africa’s great apes. However, experts now agree that the illegal commercial bushmeat trade has surpassed habitat loss as the primary threat to ape populations – particularly for Western lowland gorillas.