Overview
- The zoos confirmed a one-for-one exchange that sends 33-year-old silverback Little Joe from Boston to Pittsburgh and moves 7-year-old Frankie to Boston.
- The institutions said the transfer follows the Association of Zoos and Aquariums program that manages genetics to keep captive gorilla populations healthy.
- Little Joe will stay off public view at first during a four-to-seven-week settling period with gradual, keeper-led introductions to Pittsburgh’s troop.
- Frankie will join a same-age bachelor group in Boston, a non-breeding setup that mirrors how young male gorillas live together in the wild to limit conflict.
- Little Joe drew national attention for an escape more than 20 years ago in Boston, after which the zoo upgraded safety and staff described him as curious and gentle.