Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) A 10-year old Buffalo Zoo gorilla is getting a fresh start.
Amari, a female Western lowland gorilla, is joining a new gorilla troop at Zoo Atlanta.
The idea behind the new gorilla troop is to mimic the natural behavior of gorillas in the wild. Amari is believed to be in her peak reproductive years and experts believe the time is right for her begin a family of her own.
Western lowland gorillas live in groups typically consisting of a silverback male and several adult females and their offspring.
In Atlanta, Amari will join a 22-year-old male gorilla named Willie B., Jr., as well as two female gorillas, Kambera and Shalia, from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. This troop's formation comes as part of a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Gorilla Species Survival Plan.
"The cooperation and collaboration with two other highly-regarded and accredited zoos is just another example of how the Buffalo Zoo is going beyond just being a local attraction. We're making a difference and enhancing the long-term survival for Western lowland gorillas and many other critically endangered species," said Norah Fletchall, President and CEO, Buffalo Zoo.
The population of Western lowland gorillas in the wild has declined by over 60 percent in the past 25 years due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal hunting, and emerging diseases, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Amari's parents Koga and Sydney, her aunt Lilly, brother Kayin, and half-sister Nyah reside in the Gorilla House at the Buffalo Zoo. The Zoo is operating under winter hours and is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Zoo has COVID safety plans in effect, and advance reservations must be made online by visiting buffalozoo.org.
