Western lowland gorilla Little Joe will soon move to his new home where it is hoped that he will be successful in starting his own family.

Per a breeding recommendation by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), in the coming months, Little Joe, age 33, will move to another institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Zoo New England is an active participant in the Gorilla SSP, which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated through AZA. SSPs help to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered and to enhance conservation of these species in the wild.

“This news is bittersweet to share as we will all miss Little Joe, but we are also excited for this opportunity for him to lead his own troop and start a family, which is important for the preservation of the species. Months of careful planning and tremendous thought goes into these recommendations and this is not something that we enter into lightly,” said Stephanie Brinley, Zoo New England President and CEO. “We are deeply committed to the conservation of this iconic species and to broadening people’s understanding of the interconnectedness of nature and the role we all play in preserving species and habitats for generations to come.”

Great care is being taken by Franklin Park Zoo’s animal care team to prepare Little Joe for this move.

“With males, group dynamics and stability are extremely important when determining whether to move a gorilla to a new home. Equally important is individual personality. Little Joe is not only a good fit from a genetics standpoint, but his temperament was also factored into the recommendation. While there will be a period of transition, we believe he will fit in well with the gorillas at his new home,” said Erica Farrell, Assistant Curator of the Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo.

Per the SSP recommendations, Franklin Park Zoo will also welcome two young gorillas later this spring, one of which is Moke, age 8, from Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Later this year, a male silverback gorilla, will also join the gorilla family at Franklin Park Zoo from another AZA-accredited institution per a SSP breeding recommendation.

In managed care, the sex ratio of gorillas is fairly equal. Family groups are one male and multiple females. Based on wild observations, males that are not leading family groups can form periphery groups. Since gorillas are extremely social, this allows them to continue to experience the social aspect of gorilla life. Gorillas, in both family groups and bachelor groups, have been successfully managed by the SSP for many years, and great care is taken to ensure every gorilla is part of a social situation, whether that be a family or bachelor group.

When the two young gorillas arrive, 5-year-old Pablo, the youngest gorilla at Franklin Park Zoo, will join the new additions to form a bachelor group.

“Pablo is reaching the age where he will be testing his family and pushing boundaries more,” Farrell said. “We hope that Pablo will bond with his new bachelor troop members while they are still young and develop relationships that will help them grow together through their teenage years, and beyond. Having been born at Franklin Park Zoo, Pablo is remaining in the spaces in which he is familiar, with the same care team, so we anticipate this will be a smooth transition.”

Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild. They are found in the countries of Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Angola, Central African Republic and Nigeria. Threats to gorillas vary geographically and western gorillas are primarily threatened by disease, poaching for the bushmeat trade, and unsustainable logging and mining practices.

Zoo New England is an active participant in the Gorilla SSP, as well as a long-time supporter of gorilla conservation, devoting resources and expertise to the preservation of this iconic species. Through AZA SAFE, Zoo New England is supporting a project to protect Cross-River gorillas in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in Nigeria.

April is Ape Awareness Month, and during APE-ril School Vacation Week, running through April 25 at Franklin Park Zoo, guests of all ages can learn more about western lowland gorillas, how they can help protect this critically endangered species, and wish Little Joe well as we prepare for his move to his new home. Throughout the week, there are gorilla-themed activities, including opportunities to sign cards for Little Joe and learn more about him, crafts, chats, and more. Guests are also encouraged to bring old cell phones and tablets to recycle at the Gorilla on the Line bin located inside the Tropical Forest Pavilion. Coltan, used in the production of cell phones, is mined from central African forests right in the gorillas’ habitat. By recycling cell phones, the need for additional coltan mining is reduced, and in turn, habitat destruction is lessened.

See the full APE-ril School Vacation Week schedule here.