Louisville Zoo welcomes
new female gorilla

(EDITOR’S ADVISORY:  More photos are available upon request. Please call prior to coverage to insure Kweli is out and able to be viewed.)
 

Louisville Zoo’s award-winning Gorilla Forest recently became home to 25-year-old female gorilla Kweli (pronounced “quay lee”), bringing the total number of gorillas to 12.

Kweli, who was born at the Cincinnati Zoo, is mother to 11-year-old blackback Kicho who also resides in Louisville Zoo’s Gorilla Forest. She also has one offspring at the Pittsburgh Zoo and one at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.

“Kweli was an excellent mother to her three offspring,” Gorilla Forest Supervisor Roby Elsner said. “She was also a high-ranking and well-socialized female in Cincinnati, which is why the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommended she come to Louisville.”

Elsner said the goal is to utilize Kweli’s social skills and background so she can bond with adult female gorillas Mia Moja, 19, and Paki, 19, for their future introduction to young silverback Mshindi, 20.

“Testosterone-charged males like Mshindi who are in their prime at this age often need to be introduced to three or more females who can effectively act as a cohesive unit to handle a silverback’s rambunctiousness,” Elsner said.

Kweli is currently housed with Mia Moja, Paki and Timmy, a 49-year-old silverback who is the leader of the group. Timmy is currently the oldest male gorilla in North America.

“Females have historically been attracted to and comfortable with Timmy, and he traditionally readily accepts them into his group,” Elsner said. “Under these conditions, it is anticipated that these three females can form a very strong bond to help them with their future introduction to Mshindi, a much less laid back silverback.”

Thus far the strategy has worked and Kweli and Mia Moja have formed an innate connection. Kweli and Timmy have good rapport as well. Paki, who is typically stand-offish to newcomers, has recently started to accept Kweli into the group.

Visitors can recognize Kweli by her short, pudgy stature and a slightly hanging lower lip that reveals its inner pink lining. She is often seen near the assured Timmy as well as her new friend Mia Moja.

“While Kweli’s name means ‘truth’ in the Swahili,” Elsner said, “the real ‘truth’ is that we are thankful Kweli’s social skills will benefit not only her current group and the one planned for the future (whenever it is ready to be formed), but also the Zoo’s overall gorilla program.”

NOTE: In Gorilla Forest, the animals rotate on a daily basis so Kweli will not always be visible.

For more information on the other 11 gorillas in Gorilla Forest, visit www.louisvillezoo.org/collection/exhibits/gforest/gf-meet.htm.

 

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

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