#GorillaStory: World Gorilla Day

1.5-year-old western lowland gorilla Moke sits in the Great Ape House yard atop a rock.

This update was written by primate keeper Carolina Powell.

Summer is always an exciting season at the Great Ape House, but this year was extra special as the primate team watched our 1.5-year-old western lowland gorilla infant, Moke, become more confident and independent. Moke still spends the majority of his time watching—and learning from—his troop members: his mom, Calaya; his dad, Baraka; and females Mandara and Kibibi. Of course, being a youngster, he also takes every opportunity he can to play.

Photo of a capybara crossing a road in the Amazon rainforest. A car is driving toward the animal.
Many animals cross roads every day, putting them at risk of collision.
Photo of a small brown and orange monkey perched on the branch of a tree. The monkey is staring at the viewer.
Arboreal species, like primates, are using the canopy bridges Fernanda creates to safely cross roadways.
Photo of Fernanda Abra collecting a dead snake on a road. On the left side of the image, a truck drives past Fernanda.
Fernanda and her team collected deceased animals from roads to understand how various species were impacted.
Aerial photo showing a highway cutting through the Amazon rainforest.
From above, it's easy to see the impacts roads make on the landscape. 
Photo of Fernanda Abra sitting inside of a car, recording data in a notebook.
Fernanda's research helped her to create safe options for both terrestrial and arboreal species to navigate the landscape.
Photo of Fernanda Abra building a canopy bridge out of cables and rope.
Fernanda's team has built 30 canopy bridges in the Amazon so far. 

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