Did you know?

• Gorilla groups are made up of 5 to 9 individuals and are called a “troop”

• Each troop has a head male known as a “silverback” due to the saddle shaped silver hair on its back

• Each gorilla has a unique nose print, much like a human’s fingerprint

• A gorilla’s lifespan is anywhere between 40 and 50 years

GORILLA “BACHELOR PAD”

Exhibit Facts: • 700 sq. ft. exhibit space• Improved lighting for enclosure• Large visitor viewing window• Supplementary training and enrichment opportunities • Daily rotation to the gorilla yards

Cost: $460,000

Exhibit Improvements Quickly approaching maturity our adolescent Blackback gorillas are forming a bachelor group and require their own “pad.” The existing gorilla habitat does not provide separate holding areas for an all male gorilla troop. The young adolescent males are imposing their dominance over the female troop population creating a stressful environment for the female population and male Silverback.

Future Habitat A Bachelor Pad will create easy access to the Blackbacks enabling staff to implement all forms of behavioral management, including training, habituation and enrichment. Staff will be able to manage escalating aggression between our Blackbacks with this extra space because it allows trainers to safely remove them from the main holding area when necessary. This situation will benefit our entire group of gorillas and allow visitors to enhance their appreciation, understanding and respect for the gorillas.