Looking Forward to Gorilla Introductions

As our newest troop member ‘Johari’ continues her behind-the-scenes quarantine, we’re preparing for the next exciting step: introductions to the rest of the gorilla troop.

Introducing a new individual is always a careful and gradual process—especially for highly social species like gorillas. Our Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team brings decades of experience with gorilla introductions. (Fun fact: ‘Zuri’ joined our troop from the Toronto Zoo back in 2001!)

While Johari hasn’t shared the same space with the troop just yet, they’ve been able to see, hear, and smell one another since she arrived. Recently, we took the next step: mesh-to-mesh access. Now they can also touch through the mesh—and we’re seeing plenty of natural curiosity from both sides! Even during meals, Johari and the troop maintain visual contact. So, although they’re not sharing physical space yet, they’re already participating in shared feedings, enrichment activities, and training sessions—early steps in building future social bonds. Once Johari receives a clean bill of health, we can move on to full introductions with the troop.

Each stage of the introduction process is led by the gorillas themselves. Our ACHW team is closely monitoring behavior and will adjust the pace to match the comfort levels of all individuals involved.

Stay tuned for more updates as Johari’s journey continues!

Photo credit: The Toronto Zoo