ROYAL OAK (WWJ) – Gorillas are back at the Detroit Zoo.
After three gorillas who had called the zoo home for more than two decades were moved to a new zoo last month, the Great Apes of Harambee habitat had been sitting vacant.
But on Thursday the Detroit Zoological Society announced four gorillas – three females and a male – have moved in.
Three of the gorillas – Mshindi (the male), Tulivu and Bandia – had lived together in a troop at the Cincinnati Zoo since 2019. The fourth gorilla, Nayembi, moved from Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.
"Your patience has paid off – habitat renovations are complete, and it is time to welcome a new gorilla group to the Detroit Zoo!" the zoo said in a Facebook post.
The zoo will celebrate their arrival with a “welcome party” on Labor Day weekend.
All four of the transfers were recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), officials said. The program “ensures the sustainability of healthy, genetically diverse and demographically varied populations of animals in human care.”
Mshindi, the silverback, was born in October 1987. His name means “winner” in Swahili. Tulivu, which means “quiet” in Swahili, was born in May 2004.
Bandia, meaning “homemade doll or image” in Swahili, was born in September 1997, while Nayembi – meaning “to sing” in the Lingala language – was born in November 2012.
“The four new gorillas are already making themselves at home, and they are wonderful additions to the Detroit Zoo,” said Tami Brightrall, associate curator of mammals for the Detroit Zoological Society. “They each have unique personalities, and we can’t wait for our members and guests to get to know them.”
The four-acre Great Apes of Harambee habitat is also home to 13 chimpanzees.
The gorilla portion of the habitat had been unoccupied since July when the Zoo said goodbye to Chipua, Kongo-Mbeli and Pendeka – three half-brother gorillas who called the Detroit Zoo home for two decades.
The brothers moved to the Cincinnati Zoo in summer 2023 on an SSP recommendation. After the previous gorillas left the Detroit Zoo, the habitat underwent a series of improvements in anticipation of the new group’s arrival.
Officials say these enhancements “create a safe and enriching environment – contributing to the gorillas’ overall well-being.”
To celebrate the arrival of Mshindi, Tulivu, Bandia and Nayembi, the Detroit Zoo will host a welcome party for the gorillas on Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3. Guests who visit the Zoo on those days will learn more about the new arrivals from the animal care team that works with them every day. Habitat chats and special animal enrichments will be scheduled for 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. each day of the celebration.
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