The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden has welcomed two new western lowland gorillas, 33-year-old Kashata and her 7-year-old daughter, Grace.
The mother-daughter pair arrived earlier this summer from an accredited zoo in Central Florida through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which helps maintain healthy populations of endangered species in accredited zoos.
After a gradual introduction, Kashata and Grace have successfully joined the zoo’s gorilla family troop and can now be seen exploring the Great EscApe habitat. They join silverback Togo and females Emily, Mikella, Rubi and Azinza.
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered, with wild populations threatened by poaching, disease and habitat destruction. The OKC Zoo supports gorilla conservation through several programs, including its partnership with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Visitors can also help through the zoo’s Gorilla on the Line program by donating used cell phones and other small electronic devices for recycling. Participants receive a free general admission voucher.
The zoo will celebrate World Primate Day Saturday, Oct. 3, with animal enrichment, caretaker chats and educational activities from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Activities are included with zoo admission.