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A timeline of gorillas at Jersey Zoo
24 September 2024
Jersey Zoo has been home to western lowland gorillas since November 1959 - the same year that the zoo opened.
In celebration of World Gorilla Day and the ongoing build of our brand new state of the art gorilla building, we're looking back at our rich history with gorillas.
1959 - Meet N'Pongo the first gorilla at Jersey Zoo
The first gorilla arrived at Jersey Zoo on 22 November 1959. N'Pongo was two years old and was originally from Cameroon in West Africa. She was the first mammal in the animal records at the zoo, labelled M1. Gerald Durrell wrote about N'Pongo in his short story 'Gorilla and the Guest Room'.
1961 - Second gorilla arrives at Jersey Zoo, Nandi
In 1961, Nandi arrived at Jersey Zoo. She was originally bought in to be a mate for N'Pongo who they thought was male. She lived in Jersey for the rest of her life until she sadly passed in 1992.
Nandi also gave birth to the first baby gorilla at Jersey Zoo, Assumbo.
1972 - Jersey Zoo welcome first male and silverback gorilla Jambo
Jersey Zoo welcomed its first male and silverback gorilla in 1972, Jambo. Jambo was the first male gorilla born in captivity and arrived in Jersey from Zoo Basel in Switzerland.
Jambo played a vital role in the conservation of western lowland gorillas by fathering 15 offspring.
1972 - New gorilla enclosure opened
In 1972, a new gorilla enclosure was created at the zoo. This was named after donor Brian Park and this enclosure is still at the zoo today. After gorillas it housed orangutans, before being used for bats, choughs and now ibis.
1973 - First gorilla born at Jersey Zoo
On 15 July 1973, the first gorilla was born at Jersey Zoo, Assumbo. Assumbo arrived to proud parents Jambo and Nandi. Since then, Jersey Zoo have successfully bred over 20 western lowland gorillas.
Assumbo and the next two gorillas born at the zoo were hand-reared. To support this, a ‘gorilla nursery’ was set up at the zoo complete with human baby incubators.
1979 - Work began on a new gorilla complex
In 1979, work began on a new gorilla house and outdoor area. This is the same outdoor area they use today. This gives the gorillas room to roam at their leisure and features swinging ropes, climbing frames and plenty of space to forage.
1981 - New gorilla house officially opens
The gorilla house was complete in 1980 and officially opened on 30 May 1981. This house was significantly larger for our troop of gorillas and would be their home for over 40 years.
1986 - Child falls into gorilla enclosure
On 31 August 1986, a five-year-old child fell into the gorilla enclosure. Jambo inspected then remained beside the unconscious boy, keeping other gorillas away. The event received media attention making Jambo famous around the world.
1988 - Hlala Kahilli is born at Jersey Zoo
On 23 January 1988, Hlala Kahilli was born to parents Jambo and N'Pongo. She is now the oldest member of the zoo's current gorilla troop. She has lived at Jersey Zoo all her life. During this time, she has given birth to three offspring; Mapema, Ya Pili and Indigo.
2001 - Bahasha arrives at Jersey Zoo
In 2001, Bahasha arrived in Jersey from Melbourne Zoo. Bahasha is the dominant female of our current troop. In 2019, Bahasha gave birth to the first gorilla at Jersey Zoo in seven years, Amari. You will often see Amari with Bahasha trying to steal her mother's leafy greens!
2011 - Silverback Badongo arrives at Jersey Zoo
On 26 July 2011, silverback gorilla Badongo arrived from La Vallée Des Singes in France. He is the third silverback at Jersey Zoo replacing Ya'Kwanza who left in the same year. Badongo is father to Indigo and Amari.
2012 - Indigo is born at Jersey Zoo
A year after his arrival, the first of Badongo's offspring was born at Jersey Zoo, Indigo. Indigo was very popular at the zoo and was known for being playful and mischievous. He was even named as mascot for the 2015 NatWest Island Games held in Jersey. In 2019, he moved to Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium as part of a European breeding programme to safeguard the species.
2019 - Go Wild Gorillas
In 2019, Jersey Zoo launched 'Go Wild Gorillas' to raise funds for a new gorilla house. Go Wild Gorillas was a public art trail featuring over 40 giant gorilla sculptures scattered across Jersey's coastlines and urban spaces. At the end of the trail, these were auctioned off, raising a phenomenal £1,146,500.
2019 - Amari is born at Jersey Zoo
2019 also saw the arrival of Amari arrives to parents Badongo and Bahasha. She was the first gorilla to be born at Jersey Zoo in over seven years. She got her name after thousands of islanders voted on what she should be called.
2024 - Work starts on new gorilla house for Jersey Zoo
In 2024, work restarted on a new gorilla house for Jersey Zoo. The house will feature research balconies and a state of the art heating, humidity and cooling system. It will also have eight different dens as well as training areas and weighing areas. Full CCTV will allow our keepers to monitor the troop 24/7.