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  • From: Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>
  • To: monkeywire AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [monkeywire] New male gorillas quick to find playmates
  • Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 10:38:08 -0400

New male gorillas quick to find playmates at zoo Female Rollie seems smitten with Cincinnati transplants

By GREGORY A. HALL
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/04/15ky/B1-gorilla0415-3695.html

SEE WEB FOR IMAGE:
Bengati, left, a 7-year-old male gorilla, played yesterday with one of the Louisville Zoo's newcomers, 6-year-old Kicho, who arrived recently from Cincinnati with half brother Cecil, 5.



Two new male gorillas made their first formal public appearance at the Louisville Zoo yesterday, playing second fiddle to the zoo's baby gorilla with visitors, but capturing the attention of Rollie, a female gorilla.

"I think she's got a crush on the new boys," gorilla supervisor Roby Elsner said.

The new gorillas are 5-year-old Cecil and 6-year-old Kicho, both from the Cincinnati Zoo.

As Cecil and Kicho napped in tall grass under the early afternoon sun, 7-year-old Rollie repeatedly pranced outside the door to the gorilla shelter, her eyes on the new guys. Then she would move out into the field, still watching them.

Rollie already will playfully slap the new arrivals, then run away when they turn around, Elsner said, comparing it to a schoolgirl's playground antics.

Zoo officials said they are pleased with how Cecil and Kicho are adjusting to their new home and neighbors.

The Louisville Zoo's gorillas are divided into two groups, each led by a silverback male.

Cecil and Kicho have bonded with another male gorilla, 7-year-old Bengati, and that could be to their benefit, Elsner said, since Bengati is pals with their group's leader, Frank.

"It kind of helps to have friends in high places," Elsner said.

The zoo's gorilla forest, which opened in 2002, has 14 residents, but eight of those will be returning to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago next month. Cecil and Kicho will stay.




  • [monkeywire] New male gorillas quick to find playmates, Carrie McLaren, 04/15/2004

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