News

Zoo welcomes new resident

ZOO keepers have said it could take up to a year for a gorilla to settle into her new home.

Namoki, a western lowland gorilla, arrived in Belfast today after being moved from Bristol as part of a global breeding programme. Julie Mansell, curator at Belfast Zoo, said: "Today's move went extremely smoothly and Namoki arrived with us early this morning. "She currently has access to her own area in the gorilla house to allow her to settle in and get used to her surroundings."

Namoki was born at Bristol Zoo Gardens nine years ago.

Although her departure was celebrated with a party thrown by other gorillas in her troop, Namoki's arrival in Belfast has been a more sedate affair. "After gauging the response of the other gorillas, we have already started to gradually introduce Namoki to each individual. It will be important for Namoki to form relationships with all of the gorillas as they each have very different personalities," Ms Mansell said. "It is an exciting time in the gorilla house but we are also aware that it may take time for the group to bond. Kwanza arrived in 2011 from La Valle De Singes, in France and it took her almost a year to completely settle in. "We will be making all efforts to make Namoki feel as comfortable as possible in the coming weeks." Namoki was born at Bristol Zoo in 2005 and is the daughter of Romina and 32-stone silverback Jock.

She is now mature enough to have babies of her own it is hoped she will mate with silverback Gugas, who was orphaned in the wild.