KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A new gorilla is ready to make its debut at Zoo Knoxville!
Kumi, a 25-year-old female western lowland gorilla, will make her first appearance on June 15 at Zoo Knoxville's Gorilla Valley habitat. She will join the family group of six other gorillas, Zoo Knoxville said.
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat destruction caused by deforestation, energy production, mining, the building of roads and railroads and climate change, according to Zoo Knoxville.
Kumi is undergoing a careful acclimation process to the new environment and her care team is closely monitoring her, Zoo Knoxville said.
"If we are going to protect the species, we need to ensure we have a genetically sustainable population of gorillas that are thriving in the care of AZA-accredited zoos," Great Apes Keeper KateLyn Miller said. “Kumi is genetically important and we hope to successfully introduce her to Bantu. Her wellbeing is our top priority, and our first steps are to make sure Kumi’s transition to our group here in Knoxville is a positive one done at her own pace."
