The #1 source for news about monkeys and apes

[Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>]

Calgary Herald

May 18, 2001 Friday

New arrival's going ape waiting for troop debut

by Sorcha McGinnis



Zuri is a lovely, young debutante who can't wait to be introduced to
Calgary society.

The four-year-old western lowland gorilla jetted in from Toronto on April
26, but her first three weeks in the city have been marred by a slight funk
-- an obligatory 30-day quarantine has prevented Zuri from integrating with
the Calgary Zoo's troop of eight gorillas.

That that will soon change.

"She's just waiting for an opportunity to meet all those other fellows she
can hear and smell," said Calgary Zoo spokeswoman Trish Exton-Parder.

"It won't be long before she has some excitement in her life." Zuri's
temporary and comfortable straw-filled quarters are located in the primate
building, a stone's throw from her future home. She has visual contact with
the troop, but must keep to herself, taking part in "enrichment activities"
that mimic gorillas' experiences in the wild.

She can climb concrete trees and extract food and juice from cylinders.
Zuri is also very busy familiarizing herself with the zoo's sights and
sounds.

Zuri was born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and moved to the
Toronto Zoo in her second year.

Rob Sutherland, Zuri's keeper, said the decision to move the gorilla from
Toronto was "entirely altruistic." Calgary's troop, headed by a paternal,
calm and aloof silverback named Kakinga, is stable and happy, but Zuri was
having problems adjusting to the Toronto gorillas.

"We want her to walk into adulthood as a troop member instead of a fighting
female," Sutherland said.