Kid Territory:Critters: Gorillas
"Rascal" Ajari enjoys the company of his grandmother, Alberta.
Keepers worked hard to introduce Jamani back to her mother, Ione.
Jamani was bottle-fed and raised by the keepers after her mother stopped caring for her.
Wild Animal Park names:
Jamani and Ajari
Species: Western
lowland gorilla
Location: Wild Animal Park's Nairobi Village
Their story
Jamani was born in 1999, the fifteenth gorilla to be born at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. When Jamani was born, her mother, Ione, didn't seem to pay much attention to her. Keepers thought that perhaps Ione wasn't feeling well, and that she might not be able to care for her baby. So Jamani was moved to the Wild Animal Park's Animal Care Center, where she was bottle fed and raised by the keepers. Jamani was a popular baby, and many guests came to the Animal Care Center's window to watch her eat, sleep, and play. Before long, it was time for Jamani to get to know her gorilla family again.
Meeting the troop
Keepers began to reintroduce her to the rest of the gorilla troop. At first, the other gorillas watched Jamani from their bedrooms. Later, Jamani would visit the gorilla enclosure by herself while the other gorillas were in their bedrooms. Slowly, Jamani and the rest of the troop became comfortable with each other, and now Jamani is a regular part of the family. She likes climbing on boxes and rocks, and playing with the other young gorillas. Bananas and peanuts are her favorite foods. And unlike most of the other young gorillas (and some human kids), she loves to eat her vegetables!
Ajari arrives
Ajari is Jamani's little brother. He only weighed 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) when he was born in October 2000. Keepers say that Ajari tries to eat everything, and the other young gorillas like to give him "airplane rides!" Ajari's name means "rascal" in Swahili, and his keepers think that's just what he's going to turn out to be!
Jamani and Ajari are the grandchildren of Winston, the gorilla troop's 500-pound (227-kilogram) silverback. Jamani sticks close to him whenever she's nervous or unsure. Winston is very patient with the youngsters, and lets them climb and pull on him while they're little. Once the young gorillas are a few years old, however, Winston becomes a no-nonsense kind of guy!
Gorillas are peaceful, intelligent animals. Watch the Wild Animal Park's gorilla troop to see just how interesting and funny gorillas can be.
Where you can see them
You can watch Jamani and Ajari interact with the rest of their troop at the gorilla enclosure near the Benbough Amphitheater. Ajari is usually being held by his grandmother, his great-great grandmother, or his cousins–and sometimes even by his big sister, Jamani!
More
Animal Bytes:
Gorilla
Job Profiles: Taking
Care of Animals
Wild Animal Park: Nairobi Village
