Overview
- Bakari, a 21-year-old male western lowland gorilla, arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and began settling into the park’s family troop on Thursday, July 30, and guests may now sometimes see him on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail.
- He moved from a bachelor group at an AZA-accredited zoo, where staff say he spent time socializing with other males before being selected for this transfer under the Species Survival Plan.
- Disney’s animal care team is carrying out a staged introduction that starts with visual contact through a protected barrier, moves to limited tactile encounters, and only allows closer social interactions after staff confirm comfort and safety.
- Bakari replaces Gino, the longtime silverback who died within the past year, and staff describe Bakari as calm and easygoing as he learns troop roles that include protecting and guiding the females and offspring.
- The transfer advances broader conservation goals by strengthening managed-population genetics for critically endangered western lowland gorillas and offers visitors an educational chance to see care-driven animal management in action.