New gorilla family unit settles in at Riverbanks

Guests visiting Riverbanks Zoo and Garden now can see the zoo’s new family group of western lowland gorillas — Cenzoo, Acacia, Kazi and Macy — on exhibit daily at Gorilla Base Camp.

The troop is led by Cenzoo, a 19-year-old silverback from the Birmingham Zoo. Family members also include 20-year-old Acacia from the North Carolina Zoo and 9-year-olds Kazi and Macy from Zoo Atlanta. The much-anticipated public debut comes after a nearly four-month introduction process.

“All four gorillas are adjusting well to their new environment and each other,” said John Davis, curator of mammals at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “They are great animals to work with, extremely interactive and playful, and all have very distinct personalities.”

Western lowland gorillas are found in the tropical rainforests of West Africa where the climate is similar to a South Carolina summer. In the wild, gorillas live in groups of up to 30 members. Groups are led by a single adult male known as a silverback and typically also include several adult females and their offspring.