NC Zoo to debut bigger gorilla exhibit
The North Carolina Zoo will begin construction later this month to renovate and expand its gorilla exhibit to bring in three new gorillas, bringing the total to eight. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-summer.
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The zoo plans to transfer three gorillas from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., including an adult male, an adult female and her 4-year-old grandson. They will join Bomassa and Apollo, the zoo’s 2-year-old male gorillas, their mothers, Jamani and Olympia, and another female, Acacia.
Keeping gorilla families together is considered critical for the well-being of the animals, according to zoo officials.
"We are thrilled about the opportunity to enhance the zoo experience for our visitors by adding more gorillas to our habitat,” Dr. David Jones, director of the zoo, said in a statement. “Besides being a zoo favorite, the gorilla habitat helps us to educate people about our conservation efforts in Cameroon, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda, which benefits not just gorillas but many other animals.”
To prepare for the construction project, all gorillas have been moved off exhibit and the gorilla habitat is closed until renovations are finished.
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