Overview
- Disney confirmed on Monday, July 27, 2026, that Bakari has completed his acclimation and is now being seen by visitors on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail.
- Bakari is a 21-year-old western lowland gorilla who was born at Brookfield Zoo in 2005 and lived at the Saint Louis Zoo from 2011 until his transfer.
- The move followed a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan to place Bakari as the troop’s new dominant silverback.
- Disney used staged acclimation, including temporary habitat closures, to let Bakari adjust and meet the family troop before guests were allowed regular viewing.
- Western lowland gorillas are classified as critically endangered, and this transfer is meant to aid population management, breeding plans, and public engagement for conservation led by AZA-accredited institutions.