Summary
Bristol Zoo Gardens is home to a family of eight western lowland gorillas. There's Jock the silverback, females Kera, Kala and Touni, youngsters Afia and Ayana and baby Hasani. Kera gave birth to Afia who was born by emergency caesarean section in February 2016 and Touni gave birth to Ayana in April 2017. More recently in December 2020, Touni gave birth to baby Juni who became the eighth member of the troop!
Western lowland gorillas are Critically Endangered primates (mammals) from Cameroon, in the west Central Africa region.
When walking, gorillas walk on the soles of their feet and the knuckles of their hands, although they can walk a few metres standing on their legs alone.
The dominant male makes the most noise. He has a range of calls that alert the group of approaching predators. His chest-drumming display can be heard a couple of kilometres away. This display serves to keep neighbouring groups out of sight of one another. If they do meet, the males may smash plants around, charge and beat their chests in a display of strength. The females are rather quieter, with a vocabulary of grunts and grumbles.