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[Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>]

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

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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.